ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Friday that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would be to blame if the army seized control of the state.
“If the army takes over the country, it would be due to PML-N’s undemocratic acts and not because of our march on August 14,” he told a news conference in Islamabad.
Talking to reporters, the PTI chief dispelled impressions that it was engaged in backdoor negotiations with the government to call off its ‘freedom march’ to the capital. “All decisions will be made on D-Chowk on August 14,” he said. “It will be a defining moment for Pakistan’s history.”
When asked about the possibility of him meeting Prime Minister Nawaz before the march, Imran said he would do no such thing. “I don’t have time for meeting the premier before August 14,” he said. Prime Minister Nawaz has invited the leaders of all parliamentary parties, including Imran, to a high-level meeting on national security scheduled to take place today (Saturday).
Imran reiterated that PTI’s protest and demands were constitutional and legal, and said the party had done nothing which could compel the army to intervene. “However, the PML-N government’s undemocratic steps and highhandedness in dealing with democratic rallies can prove instrumental for army intervention,” he said.
The PTI chief condemned the federal and Punjab governments’ actions to prevent people from ‘exercising their democratic right’.
“I can assure you that PTI’s protest will be democratic and within the framework of the Constitution,” Imran said. “[But] there will be violence … if our peaceful protest is dealt with highhandedness … and the PML-N will be responsible.”
Comparing PTI’s planned march to the 2009 long march led by Nawaz Sharif in support of the Lawyers’ Movement, Imran reminded the premier of the appeal he made to law enforcement officials at the time.
“You [Nawaz] urged law enforcement officials not to carry out the unlawful directives of rulers and prevent you from protesting in 2009,” he said. “But now, you have turned the Punjab police into a ‘Gullu Butt’ force to crush political opponents.”
Condemning the action against Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in Punjab, Imran also asked why an FIR against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was not lodged ‘despite proof’ that dozens were killed by Punjab police on his orders.
The PTI chief said his party’s August 14 march will be “a battle between the ideologies of democracy and monarchy”.
“Our primary objective is to bring real democracy in the country, through transparent elections,” he said. “Elections by themselves don’t lead to democracy… they need to be transparent for true democracy.”
“We are certain people will side with democracy,” he added.
Imran said he will reveal the names of those involved in rigging the 2013 elections at a news conference on August 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2014.
COMMENTS (7)
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“However, the PML-N government’s undemocratic steps .................and instrumental for army intervention,” Imran Khan said. The words democratic and constitutional applies to the Army takeover - according to Imran Khan. In other words, Imran Khan will stop marches and demonstrations when the Army takeover takes place. and he will say goodbye to the words, "democratic" and "constitution". Good thinking by Imran Khan.
MR IK you are playing in the hands of army dependent politicians ( TUQ ,chouderies and sh rashid) the are guiding and using you till the goal is achieved .the above politician have history of providing political shoulder to army !
I think there is definitely a foreign force behind Imran The government has not been given a chance to do anything good when there is all this infighting. Its a conspiracy to topple the government at all costs. Where was Imran during Zardaris 5 years?
All parties are doing their best. Tahir Ul Qadri after living in North America is being used as stooge.
Imran Khan along with Qadri want the PMLN govt to fall at all cost and wont mind if army takes over the country. There appears to be some conspiracy by some foreign power along with someone at home who are working overtime for fall of the ruling party in Pakistan.
Government was doing fine without PTI/TuQ's anarchy, finger pointing and impatient demands. Business/Economy, education, legislature, judiciary, all are suffering - this is not called reform politics. It's clear who would be responsible.
This is not your problem if army comes or not don't threaten us get ready for packing your sack of 18 years useless struggle and go home.