LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that world believed Pakistan was heading towards Sri Lanka-like situation.

Imran Khan flayed Pakistan Democratic Movement leadership while addressing Rule of Law conference. He said, “For 30 years, two families-Sharif and Zardari helped India and Bangladesh develop more than our country. They are developing faster than our country. Bigwigs of two families kept growing whereas nation frequently suffered losses.”  Continuing his broadside against his opponents, Mr Khan said, “Name any other world leader who secured NRO after looting country.”

Imran Khan recalled PTI-led government’s contributions, saying, “During our tenure, industries and agriculture sectors saw growth.” He said, “There has never been such big crisis in history of country, that Pakistan is stuck in quagmire.”

As for International Monetary Fund Imran Khan said that organisation would give loans only when its conditions would be met. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf bigwigs considered appointing Imran Khan as party’s patron-in-chief in an effort to avoid legal danger of losing chairmanship. Party insiders claimed PTI had backup strategy to combat legal potential of Imran’s removal from chairmanship. Even with new appointment, Imran Khan will still have complete authority to oversee party affairs, added sources. In case of possible legal action against Khan, sources said party’s top brass agreed to abandon all plans to do so. They also said there would be no need to amend party constitution for new position. Imran Khan said that there were different factions of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan urging government to differentiate between them and rehabilitate those who are willing to give up arms. Remarks come as banned outfit stepped up attacks since it announced end of an Afghan Taliban-brokered ceasefire with Pakistan government last month.

“Rehabilitation of some of them (TTP factions) was possible. State can use force against rest but it should be done as last resort,” Imran said in an interview with BBC. To a question, he said that when rulers in Afghanistan were changed, Afghan government told TTP militants and their families to return to Pakistan. “All stakeholders, including civilian government and Army were in agreement on what to do with these fighters and their families. Plan was to rehabilitate them in Pakistan but unfortunately, then Army Chief got busy in political engineering and result was that proposed rehabilitation could not be carried out till now.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 21 2023

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