‘Establishment not with us’ during last four months in power

Imran tells lawyers to join his ‘real freedom’ movement at this ‘most decisive moment’ in country’s history

KARACHI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the establishment was with his party when it came to power after the July 2018 general elections, but it was not with his government during the last four months in office.

Talking informally to journalists and addressing the lawyers at the City Courts in Karachi, Imran warned that if the current rulers trampled the law, there would be no future for the country, stressing that “we should not let that happen”.

“When we came to power, the establishment was with us but in the last three to four months of the government, the establishment was not with us,” Imran said.

“Even I was the prime minister, but I had no authority over NAB (National Accountability Bureau).”

He added that if he formed the government again, he would not accept this situation.

Imran, who is contesting by-elections from Karachi, said that Sunday’s (October 16) vote was not just a by-election but an election to determine the future of Pakistan.

“If the thieves succeed, the country will have no future,” he said, firing a broadside at his political arch-rivals.

He repeated his party’s stance that there was a foreign conspiracy behind the removal of the PTI government in April this year.

“Political parties go to the people, and not to America,” he said. “This gang of thieves and corrupt has come to power to end their cases. They have no sympathy with the people.”

Earlier, addressing the lawyers fraternity at the City Courts on the invitation of Karachi Bar Association, Imran said that he was fighting for “real freedom”, urging the lawyers to stand up for the rule of law at this “most decisive moment” in the country’s history.

“If big criminals are given NRO 2, there is no future for the country,” Imran said, referring to the political amnesty granted by then military ruler Pervez Musharraf through the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in 2007.

The ordinance was later struck down by the Supreme Court.

“The country has no future if the small thieves are incarcerated in jails and the big thieves sit in their houses,” he said, referring to the ruling party leadership.

“These robbers used to go abroad [when not in government], and return after [getting] NRO and then they loot again,” he alleged.

Imran told the lawyers that they “understand the rule of law”, warning that the situation would turn worse if the rulers trampled the law.

“We must not let that happen,” he continued. “The lawyers have always fought for the rule of law, just like the great lawyers who led the Pakistan movement,” he added.

“I am fighting for real freedom from these thieves and I want everyone to join me in this struggle. I want you all [lawyers] to come together and join us in this struggle,” Imran said, “If these thieves succeed this time, our country will have no future.”

Earlier, Imran was given a rousing welcome when he arrived at the Jinnah Auditorium for his address. He was welcomed by office-bearers of the KBA and the Insaf Lawyers Forum. Senior PTI leaders Asad Umar, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi and Haleem Adil Sheikh also accompanied Imran.