rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » News » Imran Khan will hold street protests in Pakistan if...
This article was first published 12 years ago

Imran Khan will hold street protests in Pakistan if...

Last updated on: January 12, 2012 16:38 IST

Image: Imran Khan
Photographs: Reuters

Raising the political stakes, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Thursday warned that his party would come out on the streets if the judiciary is "ambushed" by the civilian government in Pakistan on the issue of reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Declaring that his Tehrik-e-Insaf party will stand by the judiciary on its observation that action be taken against leaders involved in the graft, Khan said his party would keep a close watch on the government's stand when the apex court takes up the issue on January 16.

If the government fails to act on the court's directives, his party will stand with the judiciary, Khan told a news conference in Lahore.

Click on NEXT for more...

Imran Khan will hold street protests in Pakistan if...

Image: Imran Khan
Photographs: Reuters

Commenting on the rift between the army and the government, Khan said the government should only listen to the Supreme Court as it has run out of time for convening an all-party meet to tackle national issues.

At the same time, he asked the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz to resign from the national and provincial assemblies, saying such a step will ultimately lead to the toppling of the Pakistan People's Party-led government.

"The system will not be derailed, instead it will get more strength if the present government goes," he said, signaling that moves could be afoot to form an alternative government.

Click on NEXT for more...

Imran Khan will hold street protests in Pakistan if...

Image: A rally organised by Tehreek-e-Insaf members
Photographs: Reuters

Khan said his party is open to talking to every political party, except the PML-N, which is part of the status quo.

"My party will not hold talks with the PML-N as the party has been defending the PPP-led government in the name of protecting democracy and is part of the system which it talks about changing," he said.

Khan criticised the government for defying the Supreme Court's orders to revive the corruption cases that were closed under a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Click on NEXT for more...


Imran Khan will hold street protests in Pakistan if...

Image: Imran Khan
Photographs: Reuters

He demanded that the government should write a letter to the Swiss government for reopening cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari.

"Zardari is trying to hide his corruption by refusing to reopen these cases," Khan said.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was a "puppet" of Zardari, he claimed.

The only democratic solution to the problems of Pakistan is free and fair elections, Khan said.

Click on NEXT for more...

Check out our top slide shows


Photographs: Reuters

...

Tags: PHOTO , MORE
© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.