Imran Khan warns coalition govt against filing treason case against him

Buner: PTI Chairman Imran Khan Friday warned the government against filing a treason case against him following reports of consideration of such move among top government officials.

Addressing his party workers and supporters, the former premier claimed the coalition government -- which he maintains was formed with the help of a US-backed conspiracy --knew that the people were still backing him, therefore, they [government] had now decided to file a sedition case.

"Can Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif file treason cases against me? All of their properties are in foreign countries," the PTI chairman said.

He claimed Zardari had sought the United States' help against the Pakistan Army.

"And can Nawaz Sharif who has bought four properties worth billions in London decide whether I am a traitor?" Khan questioned.

"The only reason the government is against me is that they know once I am out of the way, it makes it easier for them to siphon the country's money to foreign countries."

Khan made it clear that he had "neither broken the law", "nor had any of his actions been against the law". He stressed that his 126-day sit-in in Islamabad was "peaceful".

"I never want to break the law and do not want to spread anarchy, we never wanted to get into clashes with the army, rangers, or police," the premier said.

Khan battered the government for back-to-back increase in the price of electricity and petroleum products, saying it has "dropped an atom bomb of inflation on the nation".

The ousted prime minister said during his 3.5 years in government, the petrol prices were hiked by Rs56, but during the present government's "60 days in power", it has gone by Rs60.

The PTI chairman said his government increased electricity per unit by Rs6 and the present government has hiked it by Rs10 in just two months.

Khan said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had pressured the PTI government as well to increase the price of power and petroleum products, but a difference between him and the present government was that "all their" leaders resided out of the country.

Khan said the present government leaders do not have "any stake" in Pakistan adding that it was the reason why they were accepting the demands of the international money lender.