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Monday, July 29, 2013
PTI chief won’t attend APC on national security
Imran wanted to boycott election* Party will participate in presidential election on ‘request’ of Justice (r) Wajihuddin but supports opposition’s point of view on boycott
LAHORE: Making it clear that he would not be attending the ‘futile’ all-parties conference (APC), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said that his party would participate in the presidential election despite wanting to boycott it.
Speaking at a press briefing held at a local hotel, Imran Khan said that he agreed with the opposition’s viewpoint to boycott the election, and had done so had Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmed not requested for the PTI’s participation in the presidential race. The party chief said he did not want to leave the field open to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “Justice (r) Wajihuddin is the best person for the slot of Pakistan’s president because he will remain neutral,” he said.
About the APC, he said such conferences never yielded results. “Three APCs have taken place before, but of no avail.”
On drone strikes, he said that General (r) Pervez Musharraf had admitted that such attacks had been executed with the consent of the government.
Imran said he would like to have one-to-one talks with the chief of army staff (COAS) and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue of terrorism.
“I have been asking for a meeting with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before the APC,” he said, adding that the people had no idea about the agreements made by the government with various parties.
Imran said he wanted to know the truth from both the key figures about the secret deals agreed upon with the United States. “I want real information on matters of national security.”
He said it was because of WikiLeaks that the people found out that the government had entered into an agreement to allow drone strikes. “I know for a fact that these things won’t come up in the APC, and that is why I want a meeting to be called before that,” he said.
The PTI chairman blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding presidential election early, fevering only one party’s viewpoint. He said that the commission should have considered the possibility of holding election on the 27th of Ramazan, which is considered a holy night for Muslims worldwide. He said the date for the presidential election was announced in haste, and sufficient time was not allowed for canvassing.
Imran also claimed that arrangements were being made for rigging the local government elections, as had been made during the May 11 general election.
He said that the mandate of his party was swindled, and that May 11 election was rigged. He demanded recounting of votes in four constituencies using biometric technology.
He said that full-fledged protests would be held in order to save democracy. “I will lead the protests myself,” Imran said, adding that he would ensure transparent elections were held. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk