RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Friday said there is no point in holding talks with a government that has no mandate.
Speaking informally to the media at the 190-million-euro trial in Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison, he accused the administration of cracking down on pro-PTI judges and criticized the latest budget for cutting salaries.
Khan claimed that Sargodha had reported the judge to the Lahore High Court about the pressure of intelligence agencies. He said, the gas supply to the judge’s house has been cut and the judge is sympathetic to PTI under great pressure. “Journalists supporting PTI were targeted; Raoof Hasan was attacked and Ali Zaman was tortured,” Khan said, adding that intelligence agencies were involved.
Khan urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Kazi Faez Isa to maintain the rule of law amid these obstacles. Khan praised one judge from Sargodha, six judges from the Islamabad High Court and three judges from the Supreme Court for their integrity.
Speaking about the budget, Khan said that Pakistan should receive 13 trillion dollars, and 9.8 trillion dollars should be allocated to pay the interest on the debt.
He estimated that he would have to borrow $7.5 trillion to cover the budget deficit and warned that the country was sinking. “Investment based on the rule of law is the only salvation, but this year is the lowest investment in 50 years,” he said.
Khan warned that the country’s future looked bleak and criticized the additional tax burden on wage earners. Claiming to avoid talks, the PTI cited talks that took place during Pervez Musharraf’s regime, but “higher authorities” said the talks were fruitless when a decision was made.
He said that PTI has held a discussion with PDM based on the request of the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Bandial, but there will be no election until Bandial is in office.
In a powerful speech to his party, Khany called for an end to internal factions, calling it a matter of life and death for Pakistan. “I will take strict action against those who create groups in the party,” he said.
When asked by a reporter if the organization wanted to appoint a representative for the talks.
No point negotiating with ‘powerless’ govt: PTI founder
