ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday threatened that he would be forced to “reveal everything” about the characters involved in the alleged conspiracy to oust his government if harassment of him and his party did not cease.
Speaking in a video message from Islamabad, he said: “If we are pushed against the wall and harassed then I will be forced to speak up and will lay bare everything before the nation about what happened.”
Imran Khan said he knows the characters behind the ouster of his government. “I will not keep silence if harassed,” the former prime minister warned during a press conference here in Islamabad.
Imran Khan said he has recorded a video, detailing each and every character and their role in the ouster of the PTI government. The video is kept at a ‘safe place’.
The PTI chairman said on July 5, the country’s first elected government was ousted and martial law was imposed. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto wanted a sovereign foreign policy for Pakistan to which the US was not happy.
He said one thing was common in the ouster of Bhutto’s government in 1977 and his government this year ‘US was not happy.’
Journalists are being pressurized to refrain from telling truth and the recent attack on senior analyst Ayaz Amir is proof of it, he claimed and added Amir is a man who always listens to his conscience and cannot be controlled.
Imran said he was “silent” despite knowing everything about “who did what” to force his ouster. He said he did so for the nation’s sake so the country suffers no damage, adding: “I know how this conspiracy happened and who is involved.”
The PTI chairman said that he had already made a video recording, in case anything happened to him, so the public could know “which characters did what and who committed this great betrayal with the country.”
Imran had first made mention of his tape in May, when he claimed that his life was in danger and that he had recorded a video identifying the names of all those who “conspired against me”.
The PTI chairman claims he was ousted from the top office by foreign powers through local players due to his pursuance of an independent foreign policy.
In his message today, Imran likened his ouster to the fall of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government. He alleged that the common element in both government changes was the disapproval of the US about Pakistan pursing an independent foreign policy.
Imran lashed out at the current leaders and members of the coalition government, claiming they only cared about getting “NRO-2” and had broken inflation records — despite campaigning against inflation during the PTI government’s tenure.
He added that the nation was refusing to accept the present government, pointing to the crowds coming out on protest calls by the PTI. “Whoever was involved in the conspiracy should think that people are not accepting these thieves and traitors,” he added.
‘Never seen such fascism in Pakistan’
Imran lashed out in particular at the treatment being meted out to journalists, alleging that they were being threatened and harassed, particularly those who are seen to favour the PTI.
“I’ve never seen such fascism in Pakistan and the kind of fear that is being spread. I ask this question today from the nation and our judiciary, are fundamental rights suspended in Pakistan? Is there a martial law [in place]? Which constitution permits this?”
Imran also alleged that the administration was involved in rigging the upcoming Punjab by-elections and called on the people to come out and vote to ensure the PTI wins.
British High Commissioner meets Imran Khan
In a latest development, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner held a detailed meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry and Additional Secretary General Amir Mahmood Kayani were also present.
According to close PTI sources, Imran Khan has chalked out a strategy to ‘expose’ his main target during his meetings with senior diplomats. Meetings with foreign ambassadors will be held in days ahead.
Detailed discussion on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Imran Khan stresses the need to curb money laundering from poor countries. He also highlighted the need for special measures by rich countries to curb illicit remittances from poor countries.
Illegal remittances are a major problem in developing countries, says PTI Chairman Imran Khan adding that this illegal transfer of wealth promotes global economic inequality, Imran Khan said.
UN Secretary-General’s fact-finding panel has highlighted the nuances of the issue in its report. This illegal transfer of capital encourages migration among the people of poor countries.
Migration from poor countries to rich countries poses great challenges for self-developed countries. Justice demands that governments take steps to effectively curb money laundering globally.
The British government has the potential to play a key role in this regard. British High Commissioner thanked Imran Khan and PTI for hosting the event.
PTI writes to SC
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written a letter to the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan to take notice of the ‘relief package’ announced by Hamza Shehbaz ahead of the by-polls on 20 Punjab Assembly seats.
According to details, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry wrote a letter to the Registrar of the SC to take notice of the relief package announced by Hamza Shehbaz. The package is an effort to rig by-elections on July 17 in Punjab, he claimed in the letter.
The letter says that the purpose of the relief package is to use the SC’s decision, made on July 1, to their advantage and rig the elections. The SC had issued strict orders that the by-polls on the 20 Punjab Assembly seats will be free and fair, but the illegitimate CM is violating the orders, he added.
He added that the package has been announced just days before the by-polls to entice the voters. PTI has serious reservations over Hamza Shehbaz’s individual and official character, he added.
On July 4, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz announced to provide free electricity to households that consumed 100 units per month in the last six months.