Like the country, army supports PTI: Imran
WASHINGTON: In his first appearance at a Washington-based think tank after the Lahore and Karachi rallies, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has said that like the country, there is support for his party within the army.
Addressing an audience via videoconference at the Atlantic Council, Imran first appeared on screen eating rice and sipping from a cup, perhaps unaware that the audience could see him.
Speaking on the war on terror, Imran said that it was important to win the hearts and minds of people of the tribal areas. He said that there were a million armed men in Fata, and that everyone carries a gun in the area. He said that the people of Fata have been warriors for thousands of years. Imran said that earlier, Pakistan did not have militant Taliban. “It took two years of military operations from 2004 to 2006 and collateral damage that created the Pakistani Taliban.”
The discussion, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, focused primarily on the war in the region, and the economic situation of Pakistan.
On the subject of US-Pakistan relations, Imran said that the US “should make friends with the people of Pakistan, not with a specific government.” Citing the example of the US’ relationship with India, Imran said that America has a relationship with Indian democracy, not with any political party.
The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center director Shuja Nawaz, quoting a question he had been asked to convey from someone on the Hill, asked why there was no outrage in Pakistan when militants attack and behead members of the Pakistani military. Imran said that there was outrage, but, referring to the war, there is also despondency.
Quoting General Kayani from his briefing at the all parties conference in September last year, Imran said that the army chief had told them that there were five to eight thousand Haqqani Network fighters, however the area had 350,000 residents, and if there was a military operation carried out there, it would lead to collateral damage. Imran said that General Kayani had also told political parties that the army had done its job and it was up to the politicians to work on a political solution.
Imran added that the country had become increasingly polarised, and cited the example of Javed Ghamdi, who he called Pakistan’s most respected Islamic scholar, who had to leave the country as a result of threats.
Questions from the audience to the PTI leader focused mainly on Pakistan’s dismal economic situation. Imran said that his party would soon be holding a conference on Pakistan’s economy and coming out with policy papers.
He said that 61% of Pakistan’s parliamentarians did not pay tax. He added that the prime minister and the president did not pay taxes either, and questioned why then will the people pay their taxes. He said that that the government must lead by example, conduct an austerity campaign and pay their taxes. “The ruling elite must have a simple lifestyle.” Imran said he was working on a 90-day plan to end corruption in Pakistan.
Imran was also critical of the power structure within political parties in the country, and dubbed them a family mafia. Questioning how a 23-year-old could become a co-chairman of a party, Imran cited examples of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Awami National Party of only having leaders from certain families.
On the subject of nuclear armaments, Imran said that it was his personal wish that he would see a world free of nuclear arms. He said that in Pakistan’s case they acted as deterrents, but suggested safeguards be implemented on the India-Pakistan border. Imran said that he did not believe that nuclear weapons will fall into “wrong hands”. He added that he would like to see the subcontinent as a nuclear-free zone in the long term.
On relations between neighbours, he said that the people of both countries did not want animosity. However, Imran said the Kashmir issue should not be put on the backburner, lest another Mumbai-like incident takes place.
When asked about the civilian-military divide, Imran cited the example of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan. He said that when the Turkish PM faced opposition from the army, he went to the public and received a bigger mandate, and had the moral authority to take them on. He added that in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Intelligence has reports of corruption of all the politicians, which is why they lose their moral authority. Imran said that if he faced impediments from the army, he will go back to the people.
Published in the Express Tribune
WASHINGTON: In his first appearance at a Washington-based think tank after the Lahore and Karachi rallies, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has said that like the country, there is support for his party within the army.
Addressing an audience via videoconference at the Atlantic Council, Imran first appeared on screen eating rice and sipping from a cup, perhaps unaware that the audience could see him.
Speaking on the war on terror, Imran said that it was important to win the hearts and minds of people of the tribal areas. He said that there were a million armed men in Fata, and that everyone carries a gun in the area. He said that the people of Fata have been warriors for thousands of years. Imran said that earlier, Pakistan did not have militant Taliban. “It took two years of military operations from 2004 to 2006 and collateral damage that created the Pakistani Taliban.”
The discussion, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, focused primarily on the war in the region, and the economic situation of Pakistan.
On the subject of US-Pakistan relations, Imran said that the US “should make friends with the people of Pakistan, not with a specific government.” Citing the example of the US’ relationship with India, Imran said that America has a relationship with Indian democracy, not with any political party.
The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center director Shuja Nawaz, quoting a question he had been asked to convey from someone on the Hill, asked why there was no outrage in Pakistan when militants attack and behead members of the Pakistani military. Imran said that there was outrage, but, referring to the war, there is also despondency.
Quoting General Kayani from his briefing at the all parties conference in September last year, Imran said that the army chief had told them that there were five to eight thousand Haqqani Network fighters, however the area had 350,000 residents, and if there was a military operation carried out there, it would lead to collateral damage. Imran said that General Kayani had also told political parties that the army had done its job and it was up to the politicians to work on a political solution.
Imran added that the country had become increasingly polarised, and cited the example of Javed Ghamdi, who he called Pakistan’s most respected Islamic scholar, who had to leave the country as a result of threats.
Questions from the audience to the PTI leader focused mainly on Pakistan’s dismal economic situation. Imran said that his party would soon be holding a conference on Pakistan’s economy and coming out with policy papers.
He said that 61% of Pakistan’s parliamentarians did not pay tax. He added that the prime minister and the president did not pay taxes either, and questioned why then will the people pay their taxes. He said that that the government must lead by example, conduct an austerity campaign and pay their taxes. “The ruling elite must have a simple lifestyle.” Imran said he was working on a 90-day plan to end corruption in Pakistan.
Imran was also critical of the power structure within political parties in the country, and dubbed them a family mafia. Questioning how a 23-year-old could become a co-chairman of a party, Imran cited examples of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Awami National Party of only having leaders from certain families.
On the subject of nuclear armaments, Imran said that it was his personal wish that he would see a world free of nuclear arms. He said that in Pakistan’s case they acted as deterrents, but suggested safeguards be implemented on the India-Pakistan border. Imran said that he did not believe that nuclear weapons will fall into “wrong hands”. He added that he would like to see the subcontinent as a nuclear-free zone in the long term.
On relations between neighbours, he said that the people of both countries did not want animosity. However, Imran said the Kashmir issue should not be put on the backburner, lest another Mumbai-like incident takes place.
When asked about the civilian-military divide, Imran cited the example of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan. He said that when the Turkish PM faced opposition from the army, he went to the public and received a bigger mandate, and had the moral authority to take them on. He added that in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Intelligence has reports of corruption of all the politicians, which is why they lose their moral authority. Imran said that if he faced impediments from the army, he will go back to the people.
Published in the Express Tribune
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