—PTI chief says failure to implement FATA reforms can revive terrorism in KP
KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday reiterated his party’s demand for snap elections, saying, “The sooner the government goes towards early polls, the better it will be.”
Imran, who is on a visit to Karachi, continued his diatribe against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as he held the government responsible for all the ills of the country.
The PTI chairman said the state of affairs in the country called for early elections, as the government not only failed to fulfill its duties; instead, it focussed all of its energies in saving the corrupt Sharif family.
Imran Khan said the government’s failure to improve the economy, FATA reforms and its role in the Model Town Inquiry report were the reasons for the PTI’s demand for the early elections.
Referring to the recent devaluation of rupee, Imran said the incumbent government could not tackle the current economic crisis, for which the economy would keep on deteriorating. “The falling rupee is resulting in increasing the debt burden on the country,” he remarked.
Elaborating on the issue of FATA’s merger with KP, he said the National Action Plan (NAP) had clearly mentioned that FATA should be mainstreamed and merged with the province. “FATA should be merged with KP as soon as possible,” he demanded.
He predicted that terrorism will emerge again if the issue of FATA reforms was not settled before the end of current government’s tenure.
Speaking on the Model Town inquiry report, he said the report clearly implicated Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Demanding their resignation, Imran asked how could the two be prosecuted if they remain in power.
Lauding army’s role during the Faizabad sit-in by Tehreek-e-Labaik, Imran said had the army not intervened, there would have been bloodshed. However, he maintained that the issue has not been settled and the people are asking the reasons for the secret agreement between the government and the protesters.
After elaborating all of his points, Imran said the only way to settle these issues is to hold early elections.
“Following the ouster of former premier Nawaz Sharif, my focus is on Sindh now,” he said, adding that his party will hold a rally in the province’s interior on Friday.
Criticising US President Donald Trump for declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Imran said humans across the world — not only Muslims — who value basic rights, have been disturbed by Trump’s statement on Jerusalem.
Imran said he feared that such a move would further fan terrorism in the world and added the coming days could also see a rise in hatred against US and Israel.
About the PTI rally in Karachi, Imran said they want to hold one on December 25 in the city to show that the PTI is the biggest party in the metropolis of Sindh.
On his arrival to the city earlier in the day, Imran had met members of the trade and industry and addressed their grievances.