My arrest is part of London plan: Imran Khan
LAHORE, March 15 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan made it clear that the situation was getting out of his control, hence, the establishment and judiciary should play their part to avoid the country from sinking further into chaos and destruction instead of becoming a party to the ‘London plan’.
In his video message issued on Wednesday Imran Khan said that the real intent of the LEAs behind the entire episode was to abduct and assassinate him. “Clearly arrest claim was mere drama because the real intent was to abduct and assassinate. From tear gas and water cannons, they have now resorted to live firing,” he added.
“It will soon be out of our hands, as the kinds of actions that are taking place, the workers outside are not listening to me. When this anarchy and shelling is taking place against them, they will not listen to me anymore. I have no control over them now,” he said. “This country is heading towards destruction. It is my appeal to all of you that now, think of this country,” he added.
He dismissed all Toshakhana charges against him as frivolous. He also maintained that the court where he has been summoned was not safe. “I signed a surety bond last evening, but the DIG refused to even entertain it. There is no doubt of their mala fide intent,” he added.
Imran maintained that those currently in the government were the same people who were behind the Wazirabad attack during his party’s long march, adding that his arrest was part of the “London plan”.
He went on to say that in order to avoid anarchy, he had signed an undertaking and his counsel Ishtiaq A Khan tried presenting the surety to the Islamabad police deputy inspector general (DIG) sent to arrest him.
“All I had asked for was security,” he said, adding that on his last appearances at the LHC and the IHC, “there was no security and no protection” whatsoever.
“It is unprecedented that an ex-prime minister faces a murderous attack and after that, he is refused security and it is this security that we are requesting for in court and that judge, in turn, issued warrants against me,” Khan said.
Imran Khan stated that the case against him was being heard at the F8 Katcheri in Islamabad, where blasts have been reported in the past. “So many lawyers and judges have lost their lives,” he added.
He maintained that the “warrants simply said that the police should ensure my appearance in court”, and added that the LHCBA President is willing to ensure the same a surety bond.
The PTI Chairman also said that his bag was packed and told his supporters that he was ready to go, but all our workers knew that they have suffered custodial torture and out of that fear they have been fighting outside since last night.
“I ask what need was there to send the rangers? They were climbing the wall of my house and were about to enter. What crime did I commit that the rangers were sent to attack me here?” he questioned,
“And when the rangers and our people will come face to face against each other, will anyone then believe that our establishment is neutral? And should we ever pit the armed forces and civilians against each other?”
“When the TLP was marching towards Islamabad, the COAS had said at that time that ‘we will never bring the military to oppose civilians’, then why is he doing this now?” Imran said.
“Since my ouster, I have tried my best that I might not be the cause of any violence in this country,” he said, adding that the PTI had always remained peaceful and whenever the possibility of any untoward event emerged, the event was cancelled in the interest of the country.
Imran Khan implored that the powerful quarters that control the country” – which he clarified were not a part of the government – that if they care about Pakistan, they should introspect where the country was going.
“What will happen if I am sent to jail? Life and death are up to Allah as is one’s dignity, what will happen? The party will only become stronger, he said but warned that the repercussions for the country would be adverse.