Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan during his political gatherings in Buner, Charssada, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi has promised to set up an Islamic welfare state and block the Americans drone attacks after coming into power here on Saturday.
Imran heaped scorn at the likes of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his speech before a huge gathering in Nowshera. He accused Fazl of exploiting religion for his personal interests and supporting terrorists in the country.
For years, Fazlur Rehman remained silent on the American drone attacks on the tribal belt of the country, according to the PTI leader.
“All the religious parties are directly involved in terrorism,” Imran said.
“The religious parties have killed and are killing the innocent people,” he claimed.
Calling out his name, Imran said, “Maulana sahib, quit your double standard policy now and don’t use Islam for your personal interests.”
Imran made it clear that he believes in the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and added that those who support the Qadianis are neither Muslims nor can they be protected under the set-up of an Islamic state.
In Swabi, Imran Khan told the gathering about how the former government had deceived the common people and had gone about making clandestine deals with foreign countries while compromising the country’s’ sovereignty. He said that even the Americans had gotten wind of the double standard policies pursued by the outgoing government.
Politicians came in for a bout of severe tongue lashing during his political campaign.He strongly criticised Nawaz Sharif and Asfandyar Wali accusing them of looting the country during the past five years.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Jawad Khan: perhaps you are right, he did use the epithet "munafiq" however, what was the context? Were anti sectarian people, "liberals" the target? Ahmadis and Ismailis, other Shias, Wahabis and dozens of other sects are in the sights on various religious bigots as not being Muslim enough. These theological debates are not the business of governments or politicians. Using words like Munafiq and discussing sectarian issues while campaigning is bad taste and possibly against the ECP code.
ET, can you make your PML-N support more obvious. Your bias is alarming and harmful towards Pakistan.
@Mirza Imran Ahsan: Dear Mr. Ahsan, I understand you stance on the issue and it is completely in your right to hold such views. ET has an anti-PTI perspective and his works have been misrepresented. With that said, I completely support Ahmadis as our own, Pakistanis and believe they should have every right any other Pakistani has.
ET has its own agenda,, All we hear is about Qadiyanis, Is ET part of this group..
Imran didn't say that. This report is misleading.
and added that those who support the Qadianis are neither Muslims nor can they be protected under the set-up of an Islamic state.
ET Please stop misquoting ! This isn't what he said, although i still support Lion (Sher)...you are doing a bad journalism ET. Very bad! Let these election be clean and fair and not try to degrade someone by using these tactics..I witnessed the whole jalsa in front of my eyes. ET please.
As an Ahmadi I condemn his statement about our community. He is gravely mistaken about Ahmadis and is fed by extremist Mullahs in his party. Ahmadis have served Pakistan with greatest of distinction imagineable. Sir Zafrullah the first Foreign Minister not only took India to UN making them defensive regarding Kashmir occupation but also extraordinarly fought for the freedoms of Palestenians. He was awarded highest honours by Jordan, Algeria, Morroco and Egypt for his contribution in their freedom struggles from colonialism. He was personal friend of Shah Faisal and worked together on various Muslim Umma's issues. No such "non Muslim" has done so much for Islamic world in those early days. Please read true history not the one wriiten by General Ziaul Haq. Dr Abdus Salam is considered one of the finest Theoretical Physicists of twentieth century who refused cirizenships of Britain or Italy. His 1979 Nobel prize award is the greatest Pakistani scientific moment thus far. General Abdul Ali Malik fought the biggest tank battle against Indian Shermans in 1965 saving North Punjab from Indian occupation. His brother General Abdur Rahman Malik was removed from "operation Jibralter" replaced by Yahya, who botched the whole operation in 1965 to cut off Indian supply line and control of Kashmir. M.M. Ahmed was a de facto Finance Minister in 1971 whose timely and execellent policies protected Pakistan from Indian subversion of curency. For Imran Khan let me inform the first Cancer treatment centre in Mayo Hospital Lahore was put together by yet another Ahmadi Professor Muhammad Yaqub Khan, a radiologist graduated from Britain in 1930s and professor at King Edwards in Lahore and migrated to Pakistan to serve. I can go on and on. I condemn his statement with strongest of sentiments.
I saw the video with his comments on Qadianis. He didn't say he would deny them protection? Can someone link to the video where he said this please? I can't believe it till I see it.
Where did he say that? I watched his speech and he did not say that at all.
This article is misleading, he did not say this.
This is so sad. We want a new tolerant Pakistan not the one which is even more intolerant than the old one... The youth should not blindly follow Mr. Khan instead should keep his attitudes towards Ahmadis and Talibans in their mind... we don't want more incidents of violence towards any minority group instead should move forward as a tolerant society.
Please watch the video before jumping to conclusions. This ain't what he said!
"....nor can they be protected under the set-up of an Islamic state." Absolute rubbish..He never said that. Once again ET showing the standards of its biased reporting
those who support the Qadianis are neither Muslims nor can they be protected under the set-up of an Islamic state. Khan is reaching new lows every coming day. Is this you Naya Pakistan? Just give me my Purana Pakistan.
There are a few incorrect statements made in this reporting, that misrepresent what Imran Khan actually said and did not say. I advise readers to watch his speech video.
ET it is sad that you do such injustice and pretend to be a professional outlet.
Why not talk about terrorist outfits in Karachi Mr Khan? Isn't that double standard?