ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif slammed Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday for “flirting” with the United States (US) after accusing it of conspiracy and claimed that the PTI chief’s “cult following would soon fizzle out.”
Today, the defence minister passed these remarks during a conversation with foreign media correspondents in Islamabad. The conversation comes as Pakistan grapples with multiple political and economic crises.
Khawaja Asif began the press conference by pointing out the “hypocrisy” of Imran Khan. “His political career started with a cipher — in which he had accused the United States of conspiring against the PTI government.
“And today, Dr Shireen Mazari has written a letter to the US for Khan the country he once accused of conspiracy and is now seeking help from the same country,” he stated.
Khawaja Asif claimed that the series of events that took place after the no-trust motion “shows the total sum of Imran Khan’s journey — his dismissal from power and now his request to the US for help.”
Khawaja Asif stated that Imran Khan’s lies had surfaced in front of everyone during the past few years. “He was accusing the American government of conspiring against him, even taking names, but now he is once again flirting with the US through lobbyists and approaching them for support and help.”
“Imran’s utterances are completely irrational perhaps his followers do believe him, but most people have lost track of whatever he says,” the defence minister said, referring to Imran Khan’s supporters as “cult followers.”
Khawaja Asif says government trying to reach consensus on economic policies
To a question, the minister stated that the government had been trying to reach a consensus on economic policies for the past year, but the offers were rejected.
“He has offered several times to talk to the military leadership, but not the political leadership. Despite the fact that the incumbent government was willing to talk on several occasions, Imran Khan kept on insisting and went to the extent of trying to approach the present military leadership.”
Before that, Asif said, the PTI chief approached former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa several times through the president and even offered him an extension.
“Despite all his claims, Imran Khan has not materially offered anything to the incumbent government for dialogue,” Asif pointed out.
The minister also said that the government was “ready to talk with Khan for the sake of peace in the country,” highlighting that consensus was needed on major issues.
The minister elaborated, “we are not in favour of a transactional dialogue [but] need something comprehensive, which covers everything.”
On the matter of the Punjab elections — originally scheduled for April 30 — being delayed by more than five months to October 8, Asif said that the decision had been taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Explaining the reasons the electoral body has given for its decision, Khawaja Asif highlighted the country’s “tough” economic times and “deteriorated” security situation.
Regarding the funding issues, Asif said, “I am aware of the fact that the finance ministry has said that under the present circumstances, we are going through very tough times so we would not be able to provide funds for these elections, which if you hold now on April 30 and then in October, so you are providing funds for elections twice in a year.”
