‘A little madness’ needed for change, says Imran

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan on Monday said ‘a little derangement’ was needed to make the change and claimed that a new Pakistan would be a reality before the next Eid.

Imran told his supporters at the party sit-in here that he never gave a deadline but now he was giving a deadline that the desired change would take place before the next Eid. He alleged the National Assembly and prime minister were fake and vowed to file cases against the returning officers after the decision on NA-122 election petition.

The PTI chief claimed that the opening of constituencies would expose both Nawaz Sharif and NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. He alleged the multi-billion Metro Bus Project was launched to make money and regretted that instead of spending money on government hospitals and schools, massive funds were being spent on the bus project.

Imran announced that his party would stage a protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretariat on Tuesday (today).

About the Kashmir problem, he said, “Today is the Kashmir Day. In 1947 on this day, the Indian forces occupied Kashmir. There should be peace in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent; with peace in the region, trade will start that will help reduce poverty in the region,” he added.

Imran remarked: “Modi, the more you stop the Kashmiris, the more they will try to get freedom. Army is not the solution. India and Pakistan need a competent leadership that focuses on developing peace, so that dividends of peace may help in poverty alleviation.”

He said the leaders of both Pakistan and India should utilise their resources to improve the living standard of masses.

The PTI chief yet again slammed the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his remarks about women supporters of his party. “What is your problem Fazlur Rehman if women, who are more than 50 percent of our population, are participating in the making of a new Pakistan?” he questioned.

Imran recalled that WikLeaks had revealed that Fazlur Rehman had urged former US envoy Anne W. Patterson to make him the prime minister as he could serve the US better.

“We have the example of Imam Hussain (RA)’s sacrifice in front of us; a brave man is the one who fights back even when he knows he might lose,” he added.

Talking to BBC, he said one had to be “a little deranged” to make a new Pakistan. Imran said he would gather all into a force on November 30 to oust the prime minister. “If the prime minister does not step down, we will give a call. Nawaz Sharif is bound to go,” he insisted.

Imran said the PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s decision to end his sit-in had not affected the PTI sit-in, as the masses had become politically conscious and active. Imran said he was thankful to Dr Tahirul Qadri’s supporters for fighting with the police on August 31 and saving the PTI.

He said all the parties in parliament had joined forces to block the change. “The parties which made their governments in collusion with the Election Commission and interim government dominate the current corrupt parliament.”