Nuking Pak better than giving power to ‘thieves’
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan say dropping an atomic bomb would have been beter than handing over the government to the “thieves” (present rulers).
He told a group of senior journalists that he was shocked to see the “thieves” being foisted on Pakistan and asked if the country’s interests were not on the list of priorities of those who became part of the conspiracy against his government.
The former prime minister said he was still receiving messages from the establishment, but he has “blocked their numbers” and would only speak to them once the date for the elections is announced. He said many options open up when the masses take to the streets.
Imran made it clear that he means “establishment” (army) when he frequently uses the word “neutral” in his speeches, interviews and tweets. He said he was wrong in assessing that corruption was an issue for powerful quarters. In fact it was not, he learnt later, he added.
The former prime minister said that while he erred in making his assessment, the conspirators too could not gauge the magnitude of the masses’ protest against his ouster.
Khan said those powerful people who would tell him the tales of previous rulers’ corruption started advising him to focus on his government’s performance instead of the corruption cases of others.
He said the thieves brought into power destroyed every institution and the judicial system, asking now which government official would probe the cases of “these criminals.”
The former premier said his government had no influence over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the judiciary. Those who had the influence could have “eight or ten” people punished which would have strengthened accountability, he said and added the situation would have been different but they (the influential quarters) did not let that happen.
Khan said his relationship with the establishment remained fine till the last day of his government, but there were two issues on which they did not see eye to eye.
The former prime minister said “powerful quarters” wanted Usman Buzdar removed as the chief minister. Buzdar’s removal would have divided the PTI in Punjab because various groups in the party would not have accepted anyone else.