LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said that he is “Ready” to talk to establishment. In an interview with BBC Urdu, Imran said that all he wants is to hold elections in country and for that, he is “Ready to talk to anyone” and does not need crutches.

“I was asked if I would talk to establishment should they want to talk. I said that I am politician and will talk to everyone except thieves,” said Imran.

Further, Imran clarified that he has not invited Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to talk. He said, “There have been rumours that I want to talk to Army Chief but I don’t need establishment. A party with which people of country are with does not need crutches.”

When asked if change in military leadership made any difference to him in attitude of establishment towards his party, he said, “It didn’t make any difference to us.” “Cases were made against us during tenure of General Bajwa. Never before has there been so much custodial violence against seniors.

We thought this would change when new Chief comes, but difficulties have only increased,” Imran said. He said that Supreme Court has ordered elections to be held in 90 days and President has announced same. However, when PTI held an election rally, there was police crackdown, vehicles were broken, water cannon was used and people were arrested. He said that job of caretaker government is to conduct elections. “How can elections be held without election campaigns and rallies?” he questioned. PTI Chief said that this type of violence is tactic “To run away from election” and urged party workers not be part of any chaos “so that government does not get chance to run away from election”.

“If we wanted, fight would have continued till night, but we do not want to give them chance to get out of elections by creating chaos,” he said. Imran said that Election Commission of Pakistan has given election dates on order of Supreme Court, but “It seems that government does not want to hold election”.

“All kinds of excuses are still being given as to why elections should not be held. I am afraid that they will kill big personality like Benazir Bhutto. They are trying to somehow get out of election,” he said. When asked what would happen if election does not take place, Imran asserted that this would be contempt of court as it would be violation of Constitution and Supreme Court orders.  He furthered that government “Wants me to be disqualified or go to jail so that it can win this election”. He said, “Common sense says that all elections should not be held together. This will also be better for country. Let people choose who they want. Government that will come will solve country’s problems”.

Regarding Pervaiz Elahi’s appointment as PTI President, Imran said that he is Vice Chairman and number two leader of party. “Pervaiz Elahi bore pressure of establishment and stayed with us in difficult times, so position was given to him,” he said. In an interview with Al-Jazeera yesterday, Imran said that coalition government is “Petrified” of losing elections, accusing them of trying to get him arrested and disqualified from contesting elections. Referring to his assassination attempt, Imran told that his life is in danger. He claimed that those who tried to kill him are in power, questioning how he could run an election campaign and attend his court hearings in such circumstances.

Khan said that he has no hope from those who back government and nation is looking towards Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, addressing nation through video link, he said that his party had announced date of election rally day before yesterday and police also fixed route of regular rally but Section 144 was suddenly imposed on day of rally and containers were placed on roads, while water cannons and tear gas were deliberately used on workers.

He said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority also banned coverage of rally on TV channels.

Imran Khan said that Pakistan Muslim Legaue-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif says he [Imran Khan] should be taken out of way, adding that he is ready for anything including going to jail.

Yesterday, government harmed country’s democracy, he added. Imran Khan said that whole nation is looking towards Supreme Court.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 10 2023

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