ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chauhdry has said that former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan's followers burned national property, military installations, air bases, schools, public infrastructure to ashes on May 9. The country does not allow such behaviors.
Talking to the US TV channel “CNN”, Ahsan Iqbal said that Imran Khan was the only prime minister in the history of Pakistan who was removed by a no-confidence motion. He said that when Imran Khan saw his defeat, he incited his people to violence.
He further said that the government did not arrest Imran Khan or any of his supporters. He said that on May 9, Imran Khan and his supporters crossed the red line, adding that no democratic country allows such behavior.
Ahsan Iqbal said that after the attack on the Capitol Hill, terrorist activities took place in the streets of Washington DC, similarly Imran Khan's followers burned national property, military installations, air bases, schools, public infrastructure to ashes on May 9. gave "Thousands of people who attacked Capitol Hill were arrested and punished," he added.
The federal minister further said that Imran Khan continued his independent political activities for a year, protested and marched, but no one said anything to him. When the red line was crossed on May 9, it cannot be allowed.
He said that Pakistan is currently ruled by coalition parties and added that these parties have a real political history as these parties opposed martial law in the past. He said that there are immense sacrifices of the coalition parties for the upliftment of the constitution and democracy.
Ahsan Iqbal further said that democracy cannot be harmed in the coalition government. Imran Khan and his followers attacked sensitive military installations.
He furthered that the constitution of Pakistan is clear that the case against those who damage military installations will be tried in military courts, similarly if someone commits a crime or damages a civil institution, his case will be tried in civil court. Ahsan Iqbal said that there is no martial law here, and added, “we believe in the rule of law.”
He said that Imran Khan protested against the government for more than a year, during which none of his workers were arrested. We believe in democracy and freedom of expression. He said that on May 9, Imran Khan incited people to violence to avoid the corruption case of 190 million pounds, this is the corruption case in which Imran Khan sought money from Britain through money laundering. Ahsan Iqbal said that Imran Khan also used charity money for politics.
Imran Khan made false cases against his political opponents during his time, we faced all the cases in the courts, we never protested on the streets to avoid the cases. Ahsan Iqbal said that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the leadership of Muslim League-Nawaz were jailed by Imran Khan, but “we never incited violence.”
Ahsan Iqbal said, “We have developed green energy, education, health sectors. We are bound to conduct elections and that the next election will be based on performance.”