Govt should say goodbye to war on terror: Imran

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday claimed that the government was in talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and an end to the suicide attacks inside Pakistan was the proof that negotiations were underway.
Talking to a private TV channel, Imran said that Pakistani government should say goodbye to the war on terror, hold talks with the Taliban and also tell the Americans in strong terms that government will not tolerate US interference in the affairs of the country.
“When I was saying that use of military against its own citizens would heighten the situation and would not bear fruits rather matters should be solved by holding talks then I was named as Taliban Khan, but now the US generals are also supporting my stance,” Imran said.
To a question, Imran said that PTI has witnessed a surge during the last six months as a large number of people were joining his party, adding that if candidates of the ruling parties were joining PTI which has no power and presentation then they should be given credit because they were joining PTI to follow the ideology of PTI and also to bring a change in the country.
When asked that PTI conferred an important position to Shah Mehmood Qureshi without holding party elections, Imran said that Shah Mehmood was not involved in any financial corruption and was given the important position in PTI because he was eligible, adding that PTI will not follow the candidate-based politics rather party would hold proper democratic rules in order to boost genuine leadership.
He said that change of party was not something very bad because activists of PTI have also joined other parties and also Quaid-e-Azam had changed his party. He said that people were joining PTI to bring change in the country and will follow the ideology of the party.
“The committee of PTI for the nomination of candidates will not give tickets to corrupt people,” the PTI chief reiterated.
Replying to a question when asked if the PTI was in understanding with the MQM for holding Karachi rally on December 25, Imran said that his party was not siding with anyone, rather it wanted to unite people of all factions living in Karachi.
When asked that Musharraf was also due next month in the country and whether PTI will allow him to join the party, he rejected the rumours, and said he admitted that he made a wrong decision by supporting Musharraf’s referendum.
Responding to a question that whether PTI will punish Musharraf for abrogating the constitution of Pakistan, Imran said that everyone involved in wrongdoings should be dealt according to the rule of law, adding that his party would uphold the rule of law in the country.
When asked the presence of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in Karachi, where PTI was going to hold rally, would cause any hindrance for the PTI to play on Karachi pitch properly, Imran said that PTI’s tsunami could not be stopped by any force because people were demanding change and only PTI was the ray of hope for the masses.