Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that the country’s politics has reached a turning point and the month of November will prove to be very important in the country’s politics.
Addressing a press conference at his residence here on Sunday, he said that it was claimed from the march container that negotiations were going on with the government, but “I would clarify that no negotiations are taking place with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”.
The minister said that due to the language Imran Khan was using against the Pakistan institutions, the Indian media was giving full coverage to him. He said PTI chief had been exposed before the nation, adding that his narrative showed that he was not sincere with the public. That was why, he added, his march was reducing in strength with each passing day. When he started the long march on Friday, 10 to 12 thousand people were with him. But now when he reached Muridke, only 3,500 to 4,000 people are part of his long march, he added.
Kh Asif said that earlier, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), then the opposition parties, used to expose Imran Khan’s real face before the nation, but now it was being done directly by top officials of the institutions. Kh Asif welcomed the armed forces’ decision to distance them from politics. He said that the institution, which had been making sacrifices for the country and the nation for the past 75 years, was being dragged into politics by Imran Khan, which was regrettable. He said, “Our forces and our intelligence agencies are among the best forces and agencies in the world. The armed forces have always rendered sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the entire nation support them.” Kh Asif said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had rejected a proposal from PTI Chairman Imran Khan about appointment of the army chief jointly. He said the appointment of army chief was a routine matter and Imran Khan was nobody to intervene in the PM’s prerogative.
The defence minister said Imran Khan should tell the nation which of his promises had been fulfilled during his government. He said national interest should be given priority over personal interests. He said the most important issue at the moment was country’s economy; the country should be economically stable, for which the coalition government was striving.
To a question, Kh Asif said most of the PTI’s march was taking place within the boundaries of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, and if any bloodshed happened, the provincial governments of Punjab and KP would be responsible for it.
Replying to another question, he said Imran Khan was demanding fresh elections, but first he should dissolve his provincial assemblies in two provinces, Punjab and KP, and hold elections there. He reiterated that the general elections would undoubtedly take place on time. During his press conference, Asif also debunked reports of negotiations taking place between the government and the PTI. He noted that a statement was “made from the container” that negotiations were taking place in Lahore while a TV channel had reported about Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah arriving for a meeting. “There are no negotiations taking place right now,” he asserted, revealing that PTI lawmakers were approaching the government with the objective of abandoning Imran and wanted guarantees for their seats. Asif downplayed the PTI long march, claiming that a mere few thousand people were attending it. He warned that the safety of the marcher fell upon the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab as “98 per cent” of the route is in those two provinces. “The last 2pc of the route is in Islamabad, so if there’s any bloodshed, it’s on those two governments,” he added.
