Armed groups: Imran says all parties agreed on across the board action
PTI chairman pushes for crackdown on militant wings of all parties in power
PTI chairman pushes for crackdown on militant wings of all parties in power. PHOTO: REUTERS
BANNU:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that all political parties had acquiesced to across-the-board and indiscriminate action to purge the country of terrorists and armed militias. He was referring to the two multiparty conferences convened following the methodical killing of 150-plus students and staff at Peshawar’s Army Public School on December 16, 2014.
The ongoing action in Karachi is pursuant to the decisions taken by leaders of all parliamentary parties at these multiparty conferences, Imran said while speaking at a public gathering during his visit to the southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa district of Bannu on Saturday.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was part of both the conferences, he said. “It [MQM] cannot be given the right to make it to the assemblies by any means, become part of the government and then make itself above the law,” he added.
It was agreed in these conferences that no armed group would be allowed to operate in the country, Imran said, adding that first of all action should be taken against the militant wings of those parties that were in power.
The paramilitary Rangers raided the MQM headquarters Nine-Zero earlier this month and seized “wanted targeted killers and stockpile of weapons”. In a subsequent video confessional statement, condemned target killer Saulat Mirza leveled serious allegations against the party. The MQM brushed aside the allegations and said the Karachi operation was an attempt to muzzle the voice of a liberal and democratic party.
Judicial commission
Imran also spoke about Friday’s agreement between his party and the ruling PML-N. “The government’s acquiescence to form a judicial commission to investigate rigging in the 2013 elections is an historic milestone,” he said.
The PTI chief claimed that all elections held since the 1970s had been rigged – but no one ever pushed the government to investigate vote fraud allegations. “The PTI staged an unprecedented three-month-long dharna against rigging in the 2013 elections which ultimately forced the government to agree to the formation of a judicial commission,” he added.
“This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a judicial commission will probe electoral fraud allegations,” he said. “Our party will present before the commission undeniable proof of rigging in the 2013 elections.”
Speaking on the occasion, K-P Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak asked his party workers to prepare for the upcoming local government elections. “The PTI youth should start canvassing from today to ensure victory for their party.”
At the public gathering, a former PML-N lawmaker, Malik Nasir Khan, announced joining the PTI. Rowdy scenes were also witnessed at the gathering when the police tried to stop some PTI workers from proceeding towards the stage after Imran Khan and Pervaiz Khattak climbed onto it. The police clubbed the workers in order to restore order.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2015.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said that all political parties had acquiesced to across-the-board and indiscriminate action to purge the country of terrorists and armed militias. He was referring to the two multiparty conferences convened following the methodical killing of 150-plus students and staff at Peshawar’s Army Public School on December 16, 2014.
The ongoing action in Karachi is pursuant to the decisions taken by leaders of all parliamentary parties at these multiparty conferences, Imran said while speaking at a public gathering during his visit to the southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa district of Bannu on Saturday.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was part of both the conferences, he said. “It [MQM] cannot be given the right to make it to the assemblies by any means, become part of the government and then make itself above the law,” he added.
It was agreed in these conferences that no armed group would be allowed to operate in the country, Imran said, adding that first of all action should be taken against the militant wings of those parties that were in power.
The paramilitary Rangers raided the MQM headquarters Nine-Zero earlier this month and seized “wanted targeted killers and stockpile of weapons”. In a subsequent video confessional statement, condemned target killer Saulat Mirza leveled serious allegations against the party. The MQM brushed aside the allegations and said the Karachi operation was an attempt to muzzle the voice of a liberal and democratic party.
Judicial commission
Imran also spoke about Friday’s agreement between his party and the ruling PML-N. “The government’s acquiescence to form a judicial commission to investigate rigging in the 2013 elections is an historic milestone,” he said.
The PTI chief claimed that all elections held since the 1970s had been rigged – but no one ever pushed the government to investigate vote fraud allegations. “The PTI staged an unprecedented three-month-long dharna against rigging in the 2013 elections which ultimately forced the government to agree to the formation of a judicial commission,” he added.
“This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a judicial commission will probe electoral fraud allegations,” he said. “Our party will present before the commission undeniable proof of rigging in the 2013 elections.”
Speaking on the occasion, K-P Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak asked his party workers to prepare for the upcoming local government elections. “The PTI youth should start canvassing from today to ensure victory for their party.”
At the public gathering, a former PML-N lawmaker, Malik Nasir Khan, announced joining the PTI. Rowdy scenes were also witnessed at the gathering when the police tried to stop some PTI workers from proceeding towards the stage after Imran Khan and Pervaiz Khattak climbed onto it. The police clubbed the workers in order to restore order.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2015.