Pakistan
‘Amr-bil-Maroof’ gathering: PM says his govt has received ‘written threat’ from outside country
Imran Khan warns PTI MNAs not to vote against him, saying that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tried to give independent foreign policy
Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that the opposition's no-trust move is part of an alleged ‘foreign-funded conspiracy’ hatched against him over his government's refusal to have Pakistan's foreign policy be influenced from abroad, claiming that his government has received a ‘written threat’ from outside the country.
Addressing a party's power show titled Amr Bil Maroof (enjoin the good) and billed as a "historic" event at Parade Ground in Islamabad., the prime minister likened himself to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, brought up his hanging and the situation in the country at that time. Imran Khan said he knows the forces who have “put together the murders and the victim” — a reference to rival opposition parties who have joined hands against his government.
"Attempts are being made through foreign money to change the government in Pakistan. Our people are being used. Mostly inadvertently, but some people are using money against us. We know from what places attempts are being to pressure us. We have been threatened in writing but we will not compromise on national interest."
He claimed to be in possession of evidence that he said would prove his point. "The letter I have is proof and I want to dare anyone who is doubting this letter. I will invite them off the record. We have to decide for how long we will have to live like this. We are getting threats. There are many things about foreign conspiracy which will be shared very soon."
The prime minister discussed his government’s achievements at length and then read from a paper, saying that he does not want to deviate from the text.
The following is an English translation of what Imran Khan said in Urdu.
“Our country received threats due to our previous leaders’ antics. In our country, governments were changed with the help of people inside the country. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tried to give an independent foreign policy to the country, the parties of Fazlur Rehman and Nawaz Sharif launched a movement against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and created a situation like you see today in the country…. Today, again the country has been pushed into the same circumstances. Our country’s foreign policy is being twisted from the outside. From outside, our country’s foreign policy is being affected. Shah Mahmood Qureshi knows for the past several months that the conspiracy is being hatched…. Those who have put together the murderers and the victims we know them. But today is not the Bhutto era and time has changed. In English, there is a saying that ‘you only cross the river once’ because water continues to flow. And this is an era of social media. We will not accept anyone’s subjugation. With the help of money from foreign countries an attempt is being made to change the government. The money is foreign but our people are being used. We known from which quarters outside the country attempts are being made to pressurize us.”
Imran Khan also claimed that his government had received a “written threat” from outside the country, though the threat was ostensibly made in Pakistan’s “own interest.” He said he is not making hollow claims and has a letter to back up what he said. He waved the letter before the crowd. The prime minister said he was ready to discuss the letter in “off the record” conversations and if anyone has a doubt they could come to him. “I am presenting the case of my nation’s independence before you,” he said.
Not only PTI MNAs but opposition lawmakers will vote
Referring to the no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly, Imran Khan said he wants to tell the PTI MNAs not to vote against him because no one would believe that they opposed him due to rising inflation or poor government performance. He claimed that not only dissident PTI MNAs will return to him but MNAS from the opposition parties will also have an “awakening of consciences” when they learn about the foreign conspiracy.
Pakistanis living in foreign countries support the PTI
Imran Khan said that Pakistanis living in foreign countries support the PTI because they know what it meant to live in an independent country. “When I launched my politics 25 years ago I based the manifesto of my party on iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nastaeen [You only do we worship, and You only do we beseech for help] because I pray to Allah and bow to only Him and none else,” he said. He said the world respects only dignified people, but previous Pakistani rulers had allowed the West to launch drone attacks in Pakistan in return for foreign aid.
He said the PML-N government handed over Ramzi Yousef to the United States without following the due extradition process, and his lawyer said in the court that Pakistan could sell their mothers for dollars. “My nations is dignified but its leaders are shameless,” he said.