| Seeks Lettergate investigation only through open SC proceedings | Addresses huge public rally at Minar-i-Pakistan against ‘imported govt’ | Tells all Pakistanis to ‘wait for my call’ for Islamabad | Says only way to ratify ‘mistake’ of deposing PTI govt was holding elections immediately
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, during his party’s power show at Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore on Thursday, rejected any probe into ‘Lettergate’ under Shehbaz Sharif govt.
Going into the details of why a “foreign conspiracy” was hatched against him, Khan said that the day he came into power, it was his goal to give an independent foreign policy to Pakistan.
“An independent foreign policy means that all the decisions will be made in the interest of the people. I cannot sacrifice my countrymen for a foreign power,” Khan said.
The PTI chairman alleged that the incumbent rulers were always obedient when foreign powers gave them directives but claimed he did not follow suit, so the foreign powers “did not like it”.
Khan said that he also resolved to raise the issue of Islamophobia at every international forum — the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and others — as a strong 1.5 billion Muslim populace was troubled in foreign countries.
The third thing that the foreign powers did not like was his attitude of “not taking dictation from anyone”. The ousted premier claimed that a foreign power questioned his visit to Russia.
Defending his Russia visit, the PTI chairman said Moscow was ready to provide Pakistan with petroleum products at a 30% cheaper rate as compared to international prices. “We could sell petrol and Fazlur Rehman (diesel) at 30% cheaper rates,” the ex-premier said, taking a jibe at the JUI-F chief, who is now part of the ruling coalition.
Mr. Khan also indicated that his party’s next stop will be in the National Capital as he urged his supporters and party workers to “wait for my call.”
Towards the end of his speech that lasted more than an hour, Khan said that if his rivals were wondering what would happen after the Lahore rally, my message to them is that “the real party has only just started.”
“I’m not giving a call just to the PTI but all of Pakistan. You all have to prepare in the streets, cities and villages. You have to wait for my call when I call you all to Islamabad. I want to make it clear that I don’t want a confrontation. We do not want to hurt our country but we won’t accept this imported government in any way. This movement will gain momentum.
He put forward his demand for fresh elections “as soon as possible.”
“Lahore thank you! No matter how much I thank it can never be enough,” Khan said in his opening remarks. I knew you would not disappoint me. I’ve never addressed such a big crowd.”
The former prime minister continued: “Now you know what a selected government is. It is placed atop after being selected from abroad and is afraid of elections. I, in any situation, will not accept this government.”
Khan, not for the first time, claimed that he was out of power due to pursuing an independent foreign policy for Pakistan, which he said was not liked by international powers. He accused global forces of colluding with local “Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs among others” to end his government at a time “when the economy was shooting, the exports were record high — and all of this at a time when the coronavirus was wreaking havoc.”
Khan explained the cablegate issue, repeating his allegation of US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu threatening Pakistan’s ambassador to the US that Khan must be ousted from the power to get back in American good books.
“What crime had we committed that it warranted forgiving? Was it that we went to Russia? Or that we said we won’t give military bases? Remember Lahore where they got these bad habits from. Why don’t they ask the same of India?”
The PTI chairman said his government was conspired against at a time when it was on the cusp of “breaking the shackles of the IMP”.
Khan defended the Toshakhana scandal against him, saying that everything he bought back was on record. He said the money gained from the sale of gifts he retained were used to mend roads leading up to his residence, which are also used by the general public.
“During their time, when presents came, they could buy them back by giving just 15pc. We came and increased the minimum price to 50pc,” he said.
“The wall I had to erect … I did not take money from the government, and these people are today doing this propaganda. I’m challenging that never in Pakistan’s history a prime minister has ever spent as less on himself as I did.”
Khan urged his audience to never vote his this political rivals, saying that “If you allow them to win in any constituency, you would commit treason with this country.”
The PTI chairman criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz for the corruption cases against them and urged the judiciary to protect officers in charge of pursuing corruption cases.
“These people — where they’re sitting — tell me, which govt officer will take action against them when they know they will be subjected to revenge. I ask the courts, ‘is it not your job to protect these officers?’”
“I tried in my 3.5 years of government that cases against them progressed … but nothing happened. The NAB wasn’t under me, the courts were free … what could we have done apart from their FIA cases? And those who had power in their hands did not consider corruption to be bad. It wasn’t anything big for them.”
He rejected the prime minister’s offer of creating a commission to probe the cablegate scandal, saying: “You think that we will accept your commission? We will only accept one commission that is in the Supreme Court. Let’s have open hearings so everyone knows what big conspiracy was done against Pakistan.”
Khan accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja of being biased against the PTI, claiming that his leanings were so obvious that “he should be given a PML-N office position.”
“I challenge that if you dare then listen to our cases collectively so all of the nation knows who really collected money through proper channels and who does it through illicit means.”
Prior to Khan’s speech, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid, Ali Muhammad Khan, Hammad Azhar, Mian Aslam, Murad Saeed, Babar Awan, Zartaj Gul, Yasmin Rashid, Fawad Chaudhry, Qasim Khan Suri, Farrukh Habib, Ejaz Chaudhry, Usman Dar, Asad Umar and Shafqat Mahmood also addressed the rally.
Qureshi, during his speech, said that another “conspiracy” was in the works against the party in the form of the foreign funding case through which he claimed the plan is to get the party banned.
The rally was also attended by PTI supporters from the music industry such as Salman Ahmed, Bilal Khan and Abrarul Haq, with the latter two also singing songs.
