Imran warns against secret understanding over interim set-up

Threatens to launch historic protest rally

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said on Tuesday that if the caretaker government was installed only with the approval of Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, his party would launch a ‘historic’ protest rally.

However, he ruled out participation in Tahirul Qadri’s long march that has caused uneasiness to PPP, PML-N and other political parties.

“If only PPP and PML-N bring the caretaker government ignoring all other parties, it will mean that it is not an impartial setup. And PTI will oppose such a decision by using its democratic right to protest,” he said while talking to media after offering condolence over the death of Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

He warned his rally would be a historic one that would demand an interim government led by impartial and independent people.

His warning came in the backdrop of consultation for caretaker government between the ruling PPP and PLM-N, the main opposition party. The Constitution says the prime minister and the leader of opposition’s approval is required for choosing an interim setup. The current parliament’s five-year term is expiring in March this year and elections for the next five years are required to be held under an interim arrangement.

Imran Khan said the Election Commission of Pakistan had limited staff and could not ensure free and fair elections alone. “The interim government has to be consisted of people who are impartial and who can conduct independent elections,” he stressed.

Imran Khan said he believed free and transparent elections conducted on time were the only solution to the problems that had plagued the country. “However, for that to happen, we need an independent interim government that has support and confidence of all political parties, not just two,” he added.

To a question about joining Tahirul Qadri in the March 14 long march, the PTI chief said he agreed with him that PPP and PML-N had done a deal over several issues but would not participate in his long march. About electoral alliance, he said PTI was open to alliance with any political party that was not part of the government.

Imran Khan paid tribute to Qazi Hussain Ahmad who passed away on Sunday last. He said the late Jamaat-e-Islami leader worked for forging harmony in the country. He described him as his close friend and said he was saddened by his demise. “It was God’s will and we couldn’t do anything about it,” he grieved. He offered condolence to late Qazi Hussain Ahmad’s son Luqman Qazi and JI’s central leader Sirajul Haq.

Imran Khan also visited Bilour House and offered condolence on the death of Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who was assassinated in Dhaki Naalbandi on December 22 last year.He went to the house of late Dost Muhammad, a PTI leader, and offered condolence on his death.

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