Want to become prime minister: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Friday expressed his wish to become the prime minister, as was anticipated by many in the country.

Speaking at the Leaders in Islamabad Summit, Khan said that he wants to become prime minister so that he can strengthen institutions after coming to power. “I will spend all resources on human development,” he added.

Criticising Pakistan’s decision to join the Afghan jihad in the 1980s, he said, “We made a big mistake in the 80s by entering into the jihad against the soviets. That left Pakistan with militants, militant groups, we had Kalashnikovs flooded and we had drugs which could be used to finance the war.”

Khan added that prior to joining the war, Pakistan never had sectarian militant groups which were a result of the Afghan jihad. “Fast forward to another decade later 9/11 happens and we are hunting the same jihadi groups which became terrorists.”

Imran added that Pakistan took dollars to cultivate militants for the Afghan jihad and then later took dollars to fight against them.

Speaking about US President Donald Trump, the PTI chairman said he was worse than what he had expected. “When Trump got elected and then I saw his team…I thought to myself he is not as bad as I thought he was, he is much worse.”

Panama case defining moment

The PTI chairman also spoke about the upcoming verdict in the Panama leaks case. “What should happen in Panama is that for the first time in our history a powerful person should be convicted for corruption,” Khan said.

The PTI chairman claimed that in the past the judicial system had sided with the powerful in the country.

“This is a defining moment in the history of Pakistan. This verdict will change the way the ruling elite govern in Pakistan.”

Imran Khan told those in attendance that in a democratic system it was the right of citizens to protest peacefully.

“We have always protested peacefully. The first time we demanded a recount of four constituencies so we can find out what happened in the election 22 political parties said the election was rigged. When this did not happen we waited for a year and then protested. The second time was when we demanded an investigation into Panama.”

Khan emphasised that the PTI had stayed within the constitution and stood up for the democratic right to get justice.

On October 20, 2016, the Supreme Court took up petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamhoori Watan Party and others for hearing, in an open court, beginning the long-drawn proceedings of the Panama case in the apex court.

The five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court concluded hearing the case on February 23, and reserved the final judgment.

Headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the larger bench comprised Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. It took the SC bench 26 days to reach a verdict in the case.

The much-awaited announcement of the Panama case verdict is expected in the middle of April, sources confided to Geo News last month.

'Want to become prime minister'

Imran Khan said that he wants to become prime minister so that he can strengthen institutions after coming to power.

“I will spend all resources on human development,” he said.