— Former PM accuses ‘sell-out’ Bajwa of betraying people of Kashmir
— Demands immediate end to abductions, torture of PTI social media activists
LAHORE: Former prime minister Imran Khan said the Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government was employing negotiations with his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party as a ‘ploy’ to defer elections.
In an interview for ARY News TV on Sunday, Khan revealed his party had not yet been approached by the government for dialogue, suggesting a lack of genuine interest in reaching a resolution.
The Supreme Court, which recently heard a case regarding the simultaneous holding of provincial and national parliament elections, had given all major political parties a week to agree on a date.
However, the ruling coalition refused to comply with the court’s order, citing their reluctance to engage in talks under the court’s watch. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazl ur-Rehman had dubbed the talks between PDM and PTI, as directed by the court, as “talks at gunpoint.”
The two are currently in a deadlock over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the former insisting on holding provincial legislature polls while the government demands simultaneous elections nationwide.
During the interview, Khan told anchorperson Maria Memon that the deputy chairman of the party, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, had been given the mandate to negotiate with the government.
Khan also asserted his party’s determination to hold elections in Punjab, citing the April 4 order of the Supreme Court directing the government to hold polls in the province on May 14.
He said that talks could only be held if the opposition had a proposal for joint elections. He called for the dissolution of their governments in May with a court-endorsed proposal on joint and immediate polls.
Khan outlined the PTI’s conditions for negotiations, including the removal of current caretaker setups, which he deemed unconstitutional. He criticised the caretaker government in Punjab for its “atrocities” towards his supporters, referencing the police operation at his residence in Lahore.
He also claimed that the setup was fully aiding PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz.
If the PTI were to come to power again, Khan said that his focus would be on establishing the rule of law and rebuilding Pakistan. He condemned the PDM crackdown on his supporters, such as the death of supporter Ali Bilal alias Zill-i-Shah, which he said was “unforgivable.”
Khan also accused former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of being a liar with no ideology who had planned his ouster for a year. He alleged that Bajwa had been lobbying with the United States to endorse his extension and wanted good relations with India, regardless of the fate of the people of occupied Kashmir.
He further said he was given briefings and presentations on the corruption of the Sharif family by the previous intelligence heads. Despite having more information than members of the public, Bajwa was willing to give the Sharif family a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), a clean chit.
Khan questioned how one could give NRO to thieves and sell out Kashmir without any sense of morality or ideology.
The former premier also accused Bajwa of saving Shehbaz Sharif, now prime minister, who was supposed to be convicted, and bringing him to the top. Khan contended that Bajwa’s actions showed he had no ideology.
‘Immediate release of PTI’s Instagram lead’
Meanwhile, former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday demanded immediate release of PTI’s Instagram lead Attaur Rehman.
In a Twitter message, Imran Khan alleged, “It has been 5 days since our PTI Instagram lead Attaur Rehman was abducted.”
It has been 5 days since our PTI Instagram lead Atta ur Rehman was abducted. We demand his immediate release & an end to abductions & torture of our social media activists. These young people have committed no crime & are being penalised simply for being part of PTI's social…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2023
“We demand his immediate release and an end to abductions and torture of our social media activists,” he added.
Imran Khan said, “These young people have committed no crime & are being penalised simply for being part of PTI’s social media team.”
Last week, Imran Khan said Ali Amin Gandapur was subjected to mental torture during his detention. The PTI chief stated on his social media account, tweeted that “the manner in which Ali Amin Gandapur is being treated – abducted & taken across Pak in custody in an effort to humiliate & mentally torture him – is simply because he is a party ideologue loved by our workers.”
He alleged that Gandapur is being subjected to mental torture during his detention and is being humiliated for the purpose of defamation. Imran Khan also wrote that Ali Amin Gandapur faced many difficulties with resilience during his detention.
Imran Khan warned that those who are involved in such foolish acts will not succeed, and will only gain humiliation for themselves.
In his tweets, the former Prime Minister also cautioned that the same actions that were carried out in East Pakistan are being repeated.
It should be noted here that Ali Amin Gandapur is currently under strict surveillance due to his anti-state remarks and tweets. He has faced charges in several cities in Pakistan.
