Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday evening claimed that the incumbent “imported” government was trying to push his party out of the political arena through the foreign funding case; therefore, court cases against the three major political parties of the country must be heard together for the sake of fairness.
Addressing a public meeting at Karachi’s Bagh-e-Jinnah, the former premier thanked the people of the metropolis for coming out of their houses to show support to him and said the purpose of his visit to Karachi was not in the interests of the PTI but it was for the sake of Pakistan and the future of its children. At the beginning of his address, Imran asked the attendees to listen to him carefully so that they could determine whether his ouster from power was an “interference or a conspiracy”.
“A major international conspiracy was carried out against this country,” he said, adding that throughout his tenure, he was not against any country and stood with humanity. He also shared that since a “strong and powerful” Pakistani community lives in the United States, he believed in establishing congenial relations with all countries.
“My Pakistanis, I want friendship with everyone, but I cannot allow our country to become a slave to anyone,” he maintained, adding that before coming to Karachi, people were telling him that his life was under “threat” as “mafias” were after him.
“[Nonetheless, I decided to come here] as my life is not as important as your freedom. This conspiracy is to make you slaves to foreign powers.” He said that when former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri got to know about the ‘threatening letter’, he adjourned the session.
“After that the Supreme Court gives a verdict, we accept the decision, the decision is that our hands are tied,” said Imran.
He said that the courts were opened at midnight the vote on the no-confidence motion was going to take place. “I want to ask what crime I was committing that the courts were opened. I am a Pakistani who named his party after justice,” he said.
He said he had not violated “any of Pakistan’s law so far”, and added that he was the only politician “declared sadiq and ameen” by the Supreme Court.
“I knew the match was fixed. But what has hurt me is that in fear that I may commit any crime, I would break the constitution… The courts that opened at 12am will remain in my heart for the rest of my life,” he said.
The former prime minister also asked the Supreme Court why it did not investigate the cypher that was cited by the former deputy speaker.
He said when the West sees a leader that stands for his country then they pressurise the person but “respect” him. “When you polish their boot… they do not respect you,” he said, taking a shot at PM Shehbaz Sharif.
