Tuesday, February 02, 2010
By Shamim Bano
The News, Karachi
If the Zardari government completes its five-year tenure, the existence of Pakistan is doubtful, claimed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday at a press conference held at Palwal House, the residence of senior party leader, Najeeb Haroon.
Khan, who was on a two-day visit to the city, reiterated his demand of mid-term elections, and claimed that the democratic process has been derailed during the tenure of Asif Ali Zardari.
He said that if steps to save democracy were not taken, Pakistan would be further destabilized, both in economic and in political terms.
Khan strongly criticised rental power plants, and said that he would approach the courts as this was an organised conspiracy to crush people under the burden of poverty. He also demanded that the financial assets of politicians should be returned to the country, adding that the State Bank of Pakistan has a list of those who sent money abroad through Hundis.
The PTI chief said that neither the prime minister nor the parliament were empowered today, and a conspiracy was being hatched against the Supreme Court.
When asked if mid-term elections will further destabilise the country, he replied that today’s Pakistan is different, hoping that under an independent judiciary, a new and independent chief election commission will be appointed, who will supervision fair and free elections to elect “the true representatives of the people.”
When asked about his consistent demand that negotiations and not military action is the solution to end Talibanisation, he said that the world has recognised that the Taliban should be brought to the discussion table, something that even the outcome of the London conference proved. Khan said that the government should conduct dialogue with militants, and this entails their formal recognition.
The PTI chief said that the Taliban in Pakistan are the reaction of military action against innocent people, and demanded of the government to immediately adopt a strategy to negotiate with these people. He said that in Afghanistan, a pro-Indian government has been formed, and the government of Pakistan has not reacted to this development.
He also condemned target killing in the city, and demanded that “real culprits” behind the Ashura incident should be brought to book.
Khan said that a separatist movement is operating in Balochistan, and if the Baloch were not given their due share and rights, the days when the freedom movement would gather pace are not far. He demanded that Frontier Constabulary check posts should be abolished, and handed over to the police.
Nation. KARACHI (Agencies) - Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Monday dispelled the impression that mid-term elections would weaken the country, saying that if the current government completed its term, God forbid, Pakistan might not complete its time.
Addressing a news conference here on Monday, Imran said that Pakistani Taliban were product of military operations. “The United States and Nato are holding talks with Taliban, but we are killing our own people in our own country,” he said.
He said that the government was taking country towards devastation through rental power plants. He announced that he would challenge the RPPs in the court.
The PTI chief was of the view that conspiracies were once again being hatched against the Supreme Court.
To a question, Imran said that mid-term elections would not weaken the country and in fact this process would make it stronger.
He said that foreign policy of the present government had completely failed.
“By stopping our 25 per cent water on Chenab River, India gave us a harsh message,” he said. He further said that conspiracies were being hatched against free judiciary.
Condemning the raise in prices of petroleum products, Imran said that this would badly affect the common man.
He demanded that the Parliament should pass a legislation under which all persons must disclose their property and bank balance in foreign countries and to bind them to bring back their money.
He asked the government to start the process of dialogue in tribal areas and resist foreign pressure.
He said that there was no democracy in Pakistan.
Express News Karachi (Feb 2, 2010):
Express News Lahore (Feb 2, 2010):
Daily Waqt Lahore (Feb 2, 2010):
Nawa-i-Waqt (Feb 2, 2010):
