Memogate: Ijaz must be allowed to testify, says PTI chief

Says preventing Ijaz from testimony is evidence that his allegations are true.

LAHORE:

With Memogate protagonist Mansoor Ijaz’s testimony before the Supreme Court becoming uncertain, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said that if Ijaz is disallowed from testifying, it will be evidence enough that his allegations are true.

Imran, who was speaking on Monday at his residence in the upscale Zaman Park residential area of Lahore, also responded emphatically to a question on why he is welcoming almost everyone who wishes to join his party.

“This is a political party, not a club or non-governmental organisation where you can close doors and be exclusive,” Imran said. “You can’t ask people to present certificates of eligibility. Ask us this question when we start handing out party tickets for the general elections.”

Commending the Supreme Court’s decision to take up Asghar Khan’s pending petition against the involvement of security agencies in political affairs, Khan said  the Inter-Services Intelligence Director General (DG ISI) would reveal to the court on oath which political parties received funds from them.

He added that the Supreme Court was the’ last hurdle’ in the way of the PPP-led government, otherwise the rulers would have ‘sold the country by now’.

Former MNAs Ahmed Raza Maneka, Sardar Tufail, Jamil Bukhari, Aftab Khichi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Qurban Ali Chohan and dozens of nazims and ticket-holders from various parties joined PTI yesterday after meeting the party chief.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM NEWSDESK)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2012.