Safety first: Imran cites threats for absence at ISF convention

ANP lashes out at PTI chief, says slaughter of innocents cannot be ignored.

PESHAWAR: Security concerns left the chair of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan vacant at the annual convention of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) on Thursday.

The convention had earlier been planned for March 19, but was rescheduled for Thursday due to unknown reasons. Despite having been postponed, the PTI chief could not appear at the event, citing threats.



“I could not attend the convention due to security concerns, as I do not want to risk the lives of party workers,” Imran said during his address via video link to ISF members at Nishtar Hall.

The party chief went on to say that democracy could not exist where the judiciary is not independent. Imran lamented that transparent elections had not been held, adding that the May 11 elections had been rigged despite claims of independence by the media and judiciary.

“PTI would have come into power at the centre as well had the elections not been rigged,” said Imran.

Discussing political philosophy with his party’s student wing, he said democracy enabled man to become self-governing. Our society cannot be governed autonomously unless elections are held in a fully transparent manner, he added.

However, Imran could not continue his speech at the convention due to technical problems in the video link.



Besides ISF members, PTI leaders including the provincial general secretary Khalid Masood, MPAs Ishtiaq Urmar, Arif Ahmadzai and Fazle Ilahi and MNA Sajid Nawaz were also present at the event.

After the general elections in May 2013, PTI alleged widespread rigging in several constituencies across Pakistan. Whereas some cases have been settled by election tribunals, many more still remain pending at various forums.

Begging to differ

“The real problem with Imran Khan is that he is frightened of the Taliban,” claimed Awami National Party (ANP) senior leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain while speaking to the media on Thursday. “That is why he wants to open an office for them.”

Flanked by former minister Nimroz Khan and ANP Torghar organising committee chairman Sayed Shahzad Shah, Hussain said, “We pray for successful negotiations between the Taliban and the government and are ready to extend any support. However, no seriousness on this issue has been shown so far.”

Hussain said there is no representation of Taliban in the negotiation committee and there was no representation in the previous one either, adding that the new members are also less known to the public.

“Imran admits that there are 35 groups of Taliban because of which he will have to establish a full-fledged secretariat for them,” said Hussain. “It is equal to creating a state within a state.” The ANP, he said, does not support the use of force but it also cannot allow the slaughter of innocent people at the hands of militants.

“I held a news conference three days after my only son’s killing in which I said I am willing to forgive his murder if these elements accept the writ of the state,” said the former information minister – words that were echoed by ANP’s Ghulam Ahmad Bilour after the death of his brother, Bashir Ahmad Bilour.

Hussain said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would surely have learnt from his past mistakes and will not keep his policies centred around Punjab. He expressed hope that the premier would take steps for the relief of people across the country.

He added that after the sacking of two ministers from the provincial cabinet, seven more were also said to be involved in corruption. However, he said Imran was reluctant to take action against them as that would mean the government would also have to pack up.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2014.