Imran Khan stressed that no army or other country can protect democracy in Pakistan.
Islamabad:
Imran Khan on Tuesday called for early general elections in Pakistan, emphasizing that no military or foreign country can protect democracy in the country.
In a video message posted to the official Twitter address of his Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf party, the former prime minister, days after losing a dissenting vote in parliament, said only the Pakistani people can protect their freedoms and the sanctity of democratic institutions.
He stressed that no army or other country can protect democracy in Pakistan.
Pakistan has struggled with political instability since its founding in 1947 with multiple regime changes and military coups. No prime minister has ever served a full five-year term.
The 69-year-old cricketer turned politician also announced that he will hold a meeting in Peshawar on Wednesday. “My first jalsa after being removed by a foreign-initiated regime change.” “I want all our people to come, as Pakistan was established as an independent sovereign state and not as a puppet state of foreign powers,” he said in a tweet.
He again claimed that a “major conspiracy” had been imposed on Pakistan, citing the joint opposition’s vote of no confidence that led to his ouster.
Khan had vowed on Sunday to start the “freedom fight against a foreign conspiracy” of regime change in Pakistan.
“Pakistan became an independent state in 1947, but the freedom struggle begins again today against a foreign regime change conspiracy,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Sunday.
“It is always the people of the country who defend their sovereignty and democracy,” he had said.
Khan has claimed that the opposition’s no-confidence vote against him was a “massive foreign conspiracy against Pakistan”. The former prime minister claimed he had evidence and stated that a letter had been sent by former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed, after talks with the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia.
In response, the US categorically rejected Khan’s accusations of a “foreign conspiracy” plotted in Washington, saying there was “absolutely no truth” in these claims.
Speaking to the National Assembly on Monday after his election as Pakistan’s 23rd Prime Minister, Shehbaz called Sharif Khan’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ claims ‘drama’.
Sharif said he will resign and go home if proven.
“The Pakistan National Security Committee would be informed of a controversial letter related to the so-called foreign conspiracy,” he said.
Khan had alleged that the US was involved in a conspiracy to overthrow his government.
“I will resign and go home if conspiracy is proven in a letter controversy,” Shehbaz said. PTI AKJ AKJ
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