Will return to roads after recovery, says Imran Khan in address to nation
Pakistan
Plan in place to assassinate me like Salman Taseer, reveals Imran Khan in address to nation
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that he had prior information that he would be attacked either in Gujrat or Wazirabad and a plan is in place to kill him like former Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
Addressing the nation day after he along with other party leaders were wounded in gunshots fired at the long march container, the PTI chairman said that he already knew that there was a plan in place to kill him either in Wazirabad or Gujrat.
Imran Khan said that American official threatened to remove him and later his government was toppled through no-confidence motion and people voted him into power because they were completely fed up of these parties.
He also alleged that the establishment decides it s time for a change and brings them back and that s the plot, adding that they knew that a conspiracy was being hatched but didn’t stopped it.
Turning his guns towards the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the former prime minister said that the Commission was involved with the incumbent government to sideline his party. "In the July 17 byelection, the ECP resorted to all sorts of rigging tactics," he alleged. "They employed all manoeuvres to discredit me, resorted to mudslinging, and filed cases against me."
The former PM went on to say that the ECP was used to disqualify him despite that all record of the Toshakahan was available and there was no room for theft. “I was disqualified on Nawaz Sharif’s orders,” he said and added the PML-N supremo was involved in corruption worth billions of rupees while Ishaq Dar’s affidavit is also present.
Taking a jibe at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the former premier said the ECP had opposed the EVMs as it [EVMs] was not rolled out, deliberately. The PTI had swept past the other parties in by-polls, despite the handlers of the two parties opposing the EVMs.
Imran Khan also revealed that a plan is in place to kill him like former Punjab governor Salman Taseer. Imran Khan also revealed that a plan is in plan to kill him like former Punjab governor Salman Taseer. He said three people planned to assassinate him, adding that Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah made the plan. How can investigation be carried out until these three people don’t resign, he added.
The former premier went on to say that back in the 90s, the two governments were removed due to corruption, but it was the former president, Pervez Musharraf, who handed over the NRO to them as a result of the country’s loans were increased significantly.
Comparing himself with the incumbent government, Imran said, “Now they are taking NRO II, but I came to the power through struggle.” The PTI chief praised his supporters for encouraging him after the gunfire attack. Recalling the PTI’s long march on May 25, Imran said, “Our companions were tortured and arrested”.
Saying that the incumbent government has been imposed on the country through the plot, Imran questioned, “Is staging a long march for them is fair?” Instead of knowing the facts, the fires were opened on the people, added the former premier.
While urging the party workers to continue staging a protest against Rana Sanaullah, Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan maintained that he would continue his long march towards Islamabad after regaining his health.
Lashing out at the PML-N supremo, Imran said, “My comparison is being made with Nawaz Sharif, who wants the ECP to disqualify me. CEC is a slave of the Sharif family, who leveled false allegations against me.”
“What is happening today, was not even happened in the regime of Pervez Musharraf. In my observation, Arshad Sharif was Pakistan’s biggest investigative journalist. I along with the journalists and Arshad Sharif’s family know who is behind his [Arshad Sharif] killing,” added the former premier.
The PTI chairman further stated, “Now, I came to know where the masses are standing. I have clinched eight out of nine seats, which is a world record. I have recorded a video, if anything happens to me, these four people will be responsible. My country should know who attempted an assassination on me.”
Challenging the Sharif family to contest elections against him, Imran asked Nawaz to return to the country and contest in any of the seats of the Punjab province.
Recalling the significance of rule of law in the country, Imran said that without the existence of rule of law, the country could not advance. Citing again the example of the country’s advancement back in the 1960s, Imran said when there is no rule of law, corruption prevails.
The former premier also talked about East Pakistan and said, “When I made my way to Bangladesh, people were chanting slogans of “Long Live Pakistan”, then I realized that we have delivered a great injustice to these people. The same thing is going to repeat now by assassinating the leader of the country’s biggest political party.”
“I knew that they would attack me, but for one moment, I first thought that will they really attempt an assassination on me. They are afraid that if Imran will come into power again, their NRO will be reversed,” said the former premier.
Saying that to get independence, it is important to give sacrifices, Imran questioned his supporters, “Will we remain in the way we are currently living or by getting independence, through changing our fate.” Imran said that he will give his supporters the call of the march towards Islamabad again, after his recovery. He claimed, “Azam Swati was asked to tell me that I will also be beaten like Swati.”
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Doctor’s consent
Earlier, the PTI chairman said that he is waiting for the doctor’s permission to move forward with his long march.
Talking with the senior leaders of his party, the PTI chief said that he is trying his level best to reach out to the general public in the same location – where the incident occurred. The former premier expressed his gratitude to Almighty Allah for saving his life, adding that otherwise, the assassins had left no stone unturned to kill him and his companions.
Continuing to talk over the incident of gunfire attack on the PTI’s container in Wazirabad, Imran said with the attempt of assassination on him, he has become much stronger. “We were staging a long march peacefully and as per law and constitution, but the enemies acted like cowards,” added the former premier.
Attack
It may be recalled that the firing incident happened during the long march reception camp at Allahwala Chowk in Wazirabad. District police officer Ghazanfar Ali said one person was killed and ten others were wounded in the attack.
A bullet hit his shin, the PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said. "Imran Khan and (party colleague) Faisal Javed received bullet wounds. A bullet hit IK’s shin. Both have been taken to hospital for treatment," Chaudhry said.
Fawad further said that three people were injured in the attack, including Senator Faisal Javed and Ahmad Chattha.
Imran Khan with later seen with a bandage on his right leg, just above the foot, according to reports and a blurry image. He was moved to another vehicle from his container truck, from where announcements were being made that he was safe.
Earlier, the alleged attacker in his initial confessional statement said that his only target was the former prime minister.
In his initial statement, the alleged attacker said that he suddenly decided to assassinate Imran Khan because he was misleading people. The attacker also said that no one is behind his act, adding that he has done this alone.
