| Says establishment brought opposition’s three options, including no-confidence, resignation, fresh elections | Asserts he’s aware of conspiracy to assassinate him since August 2021
News Desk Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan’s strong ‘establishment’ gave him three options to end the ongoing political turmoil in the country; face no-trust vote in parliament, hold fresh elections or step down.
This he revealed in an interview with a local TV channel on Friday.
“I said early election is the best option… I could never think of resigning… and for no-trust motion I believe that I will fight till the last minute,” the premier remarked.
Prime Minister Imran also claimed that he knew that a “foreign conspiracy” was being hatched in London to topple his government since August last year.
“This game started in August [last year]… I received reports about people frequently visiting London from here [Pakistan]… and [also received] reports from agencies,” said the premier in an interview with a local TV channel on Friday.
The premier alleged that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in London since 2019 for medical treatment, was plotting against his government.
“He [Nawaz] was frequently holding meetings with individuals who are against military and held last meeting with Hussain Haqqani on March 3,” Imran Khan claimed.
‘Talk of de-notifying army chief was opposition’s propaganda’
While responding to a question, PM Imran rubbished the rumours that he was mulling to de-notify army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and added that it was a “propaganda spread by PML-N”.
“I can never think of doing anything which is detrimental to our armed forces… our country needs a strong military.”
PM Imran said he will never speak against the country’s military. “Despite the issues, I will never discuss them publicly because Pakistan needs a strong army and we should not do anything which causes harms to [military],” he remarked.
‘No favouritism on spy chief’s appointment’
Speaking about the reported impasse over new spy chief’s appointment in October last year, PM Imran admitted that he wanted General Faiz Hameed to continue as DG ISI till winter amid fears of civil war in Afghanistan.
“He [General Qamar] had a different view in this regard while I was thinking as the chief executive of the country,” said the premier while dispelling the impression that his approach was based on “favouritism”.
The Three Options
Answering a question about what options opposition gave him, PM Imran Khan said that he doesn’t think he should talk to people like Shehbaz Sharif, but yes, the “establishment” gave him three options i.e. no-confidence vote, early elections or resignation as PM.
He maintained that he will let no-confidence vote pass, whether he loses or wins as he wants the nation to see the faces of people who conspired against their own country.
“If we survive (the no-confidence vote), we cannot of course work with these turncoats (who left PTI to join opposition), early elections are the best option, I will urge my nation to give me simple majority so that I won’t have to do compromises,” said the PM.
‘Regime Change Threat’
Terming the opposition’s no-confidence motion, a conspiracy, the PM said that he knew about it since August last year and he had reports that some opposition leaders are visiting embassies.
“People like Husain Haqqani were meeting Nawaz Sharif in London,” said PM Imran Khan.
He was of the view that both the PML-N and PPP have brought such disgrace to our country that foreign powers are openly calling for regime change in Pakistan.
PM Imran Khan repeated what he said in a televised address to the nation on March 31 that a foreign country not only expressed disapproval over his premiership and demanded that he be ousted through no-confidence vote so that Pakistan be “forgiven”.
He maintained that the foreign country objected upon his independent foreign policy.
He maintained that the “threat memo” doesn’t only demand a regime change but clearly mentioned that PM Imran Khan should be removed.
