Says aware of foreign plot against his govt since August
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government will go for early elections if he remains successful in defeating the no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly.
In an interview to a private television channel on Friday, the prime minister said that ‘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.
“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.
While responding to a question, the prime minister rubbished the rumours that he was mulling to de-notify Chief of Army Staff 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.” He 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 harm to [military],” he remarked.
Responding to another question, Imran Khan said he wants a foreign policy aimed at protecting the rights of the people of Pakistan and enhancing respect for the green passport. He said that Pakistan’s foreign policy should be based on having cordial relations with all the countries, including Russia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the Middle East.
The prime minister said Pakistan can be a partner in peace and not in a conflict. Giving an example of India for pursuing an independent foreign policy and remaining non-aligned to any bloc, he said New Delhi reap benefits of this policy from all sides.
Imran Khan said former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto pursued an independent foreign policy, but unfortunately, some internal elements in collaboration with the international forces hatched a conspiracy against him.
Prime Minister Khan said 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,” he added.
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 the military and held last meeting with Hussain Haqqani on March 3,” Imran Khan claimed.
Khan said that his life is in danger and he has been aware of the conspiracy to assassinate him since August 2021. TLTP
