Efforts afoot to pit army, judges against PTI, claims Imran

PESHAWAR:

 

PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan on Tuesday maintained that efforts were being made to turn the judiciary and army against him.

Addressing a rally in Peshawar, he defended his three-day old statement, saying that he had talked about appointing the army chief on merit because “thieves” could not be given the authority to appoint him.

The PTI chief further claimed that he had spoken against Additional and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry because of the “torture” inflicted upon his aide Dr Shahbaz Gill in police custody.

“I respect the judiciary and all courts and can never think of threatening any judge,” he added.

Imran maintained that efforts were being made to cause a clash between his party and the institutions.

He reiterated that he would become more dangerous if he was further pushed against the wall.

The PTI chairman once again said that the nation should be ready when he would give the last call for “real freedom”.

“Everyone will have to come together and we will rid the country of ‘corrupt gangs’ and ‘three stooges’,” he added, apparently referring to the trio of PM Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The ex-premier further claimed that the current government was imposed under an American conspiracy to weaken the nation.

He said a day would come when a Pakistani went abroad, they would be appreciated there.

However, he added that as long as these “thieves” were sitting on the top, our passports could never be respected.

He maintained that if Shehbaz was an honourable prime minister, he would first bring back his assets from abroad and then ask the world for money.

The PTI chief claimed that current rulers were aware that they could not win the elections.

“So now they are hatching conspiracies -- trying to disqualify me, calling me a terrorist, and trying to turn the judiciary against the PTI,” he added.
The PTI chief said he had stressed upon the need for selecting the army chief on merit and this was the rule of the world.

He added that he had opposed PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Zardari appointing the army chief because neither a “fugitive” could do so, nor a person whose money and assets were “abroad”.

Imran said this was his country and army.

“The stronger the army, the stronger the country,” he added.
He maintained that his party, after coming back into power, would strengthen the institutions of the country.

“If we criticise the army, we do it for its improvement,” he concluded.