Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that PTI Chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan was trying to open "doors of negotiation" with establishment in his "desperation for power". "On one side, he is attacking them establishment and on other hand, he wants to open doors of negotiations or dialogue as well," he said. Asif's claims come two days after Imran, at a rally in Gujranwala warned  establishment that it would be held responsible if country and economy were to "plummet any further" under incumbent government.

Defence Minister said that Imran's statement showed that he wanted to talk to establishment at "gunpoint" and "by force".

"He just wants to take his government back, whether it is in right or wrong way this is his desperation for power," Asif alleged. He said that Imran was using pressure tactics, recalling that before PTI Chief was ousted, he was an "admirer" of establishment. "At that time, establishment was fine but today, you are abusing and attacking them."

Imran, minister alleged, "does not even know spelling of democracy" and was a man of an "imperialist mind". "And this is reason he wants establishment to support him," he added. "Establishment is standing with Constitution, not with an individual or political party. God willing, in upcoming years role of establishment will be same and we will support it," Asif vowed.

Talking about contempt of court proceedings against Imran, he said a legal course would be taken in that but called out ex-premier for trying to disrupt legal processes.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 12 2022

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