- Actively digging holes in the PTI ship are deserters: Imran Khan
In a shocking revelation, Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claimed on Tuesday that several individuals who had left the party were now actively working to cause further division.
During a video-linked speech, the deposed Prime Minister alleged that numerous people, including party leaders, had faced torture for their support of the PTI. He stated, “Thousands of our workers and supporters, approximately ten thousand in total, were imprisoned and subjected to severe mistreatment.” Imran Khan highlighted specific cases of Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, who had endured torture. He expressed concern that party leaders were either in jail or in hiding, emphasizing that they faced persecution simply for declaring their allegiance to the party.
Furthermore, Mr. Khan accused the current government of targeting PTI ticket holders in an attempt to detach them from the party, claiming that this was an unprecedented level of pressure exerted on the PTI, with only a few individuals excepted. He mentioned the emergence of a new political party and alleged efforts to divert the PTI’s supporters towards it, accompanied by attacks and demolitions on the homes of those in hiding.
In reference to the superior judiciary, Imran Khan asserted that he was aware of the intense pressure being applied, with judges receiving threatening phone calls from unidentified sources. He claimed that PTI workers were being intimidated with the abduction of women from their homes. Mr. Khan expressed disbelief at the extent to which the authorities had stooped, emphasizing that such actions were unimaginable in the country’s political landscape. He argued that the authorities hesitated to release the women, knowing that they were not involved in acts of arson during the protests, as the majority of protesters were peaceful.
The former Prime Minister contended that all national institutions were being systematically undermined with the aim of dismantling the PTI. He pointed out that, based on reports from prisons, a significant number of police officers were dissatisfied with the treatment they received, feeling that they were being subjected to brutality. Mr. Khan claimed that individuals known as “Gullu Butts” had been introduced into the police force, and these individuals faced pressure from unknown sources, forcing them to carry out certain actions.
Regarding the political landscape, Mr. Khan expressed his belief that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would not be able to form a government. He noted that efforts were being made to form an alliance, but questioned whether such a coalition could effectively lead the country out of its current predicament.
Imran Khan maintained that the PTI had no intention of granting party tickets to most of those who had defected. Additionally, he took to Twitter on Monday to criticize the current government, describing it as fascist and oppressive towards the opposition. He highlighted the significant economic challenges faced by the country since the incumbent government came into power.
Notably, he pointed out a substantial disparity between the official and open market exchange rates, indicating a hoarding of dollars within the economy, which negatively affected investor confidence. Mr. Khan warned of the absence of both local and foreign investment, leading to a severe contraction in the Gross National Product (GDP) and exacerbating the economic crisis. He cautioned that the country would experience high inflation, even reaching a state of hyperinflation in the future. Furthermore, he suggested that the leaders of the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) had substantial sums of money in foreign accounts, explaining their lack of interest in improving the economy.
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