Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan stated on Monday that he was neither “anti-Indian nor anti-American” nor against any country and that he sought good relations with all nations based on mutual respect. Khan lambasted the Opposition parties in a televised public engagement program, a day after members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party blocked a vote of no-confidence in him in the National Assembly and convinced President Arif Alvi to dissolve the lower house.
Following the dissolution of the National Assembly, the unified opposition’s policy of focusing on the Supreme Court rather than preparing for elections was a hint that it “feared the popular reaction,” he said.
Mr. Khan, who has been requested to stay as Prime Minister by the president until a caretaker premier is named, said he was not against foreign countries in response to a question during the uproar over an alleged foreign letter that threatened his government.
“I have no animosity toward any country.” I am neither anti-American nor anti-Indian. However, we have the ability to oppose policies. Mr. Khan was cited in the Dawn newspaper as adding, “I desire friendship with them, and there should be respect.” According to The Express Tribune, Mr. Khan stated that he had no malice against the United States and instead hoped for a reciprocal friendship with the superpower, free of involvement in domestic issues against the national good.
He stated that he was opposed to governments who ignore the sovereignty of other countries and just give commands. He accused opposition parties of “serving these foreign countries as their yes man,” claiming that they “served these foreign countries as their yes man.” Mr. Khan’s remarks come a day after he named Donald Lu, a senior US ambassador, as the person allegedly involved in a “foreign conspiracy” to destabilize his administration through a no-confidence vote proposed by the opposition.
Mr. Khan, who is notorious for his anti-India rhetoric, has recently praised New Delhi’s foreign policy independence. Mr. Khan remarked during his Q&A session that he wants to encourage his people not to “become slaves” to any country simply because they are in debt. “Death is preferable to servitude in that instance.” Mr. Khan stated that while he disagreed with the US-led war in Afghanistan, he had never been anti-American.
He went on to say that he wanted good relations with all countries based on mutual respect and that he would not accept any policies that were detrimental to Pakistan’s people. He was quoted by the official APP news agency as stating, “Death is preferable to such enslavement.”
When a ruler of 220 million people held meetings with the president of a big country while holding a paper in his hand, the Prime Minister stated it was an insult to the entire country.
Imran Khan attacks opposition parties
Imran Khan chastised opposition parties for seeking respite from the Supreme Court rather than preparing for elections. Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party successfully vetoed a no-confidence vote on Imran Khan in the National Assembly on Sunday, forcing President Arif Alvi to dissolve the lower chamber. The matter was delayed by Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday. On Monday, Imran Khan received questions from the general public on the live program “Aap Ka Wazir-e-Azam, Aap Kay Saath” (Your Minister, alongside you) from Islamabad. “The opposition parties are terrified of public reaction and are avoiding the elections that they demanded,” he explained.
To improve his public visibility, he stated that he will attend a protest event organized by his followers at D-Chowk, just outside the capital’s red zone. “A peaceful protest against treason by [opposition] politicians will be held after Isha (night) prayers,” he stated.
Imran Khan also praised Qasim Suri, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, for rejecting the no-confidence resolution, claiming it was based on a “foreign plot.” “I want this trend of anyone with Rs 20 billion being able to overthrow the government to come to an end.” “This is intolerable and a devaluation of democracy,” he remarked.
He accused the opposition of bribing provincial members in Lahore, where the assembly will elect a new chief minister this week, with money. Imran Khan said he would interview all candidates seeking a ticket for his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the upcoming elections.
In response to a query, he denied having any animosity toward any country. “I have no animosity toward any country.” I am neither anti-American nor anti-Indian. However, we have the ability to oppose policies. He stated, “I desire a relationship with them, and there should be respect.”
But he quickly added that he was opposed to countries who ignore other sovereign countries and merely issue commands, an oblique reference to the United States. Imran Khan’s remarks come a day after he labeled senior US ambassador Donald Lu as a suspect in a “foreign conspiracy” to destabilize his government through a no-confidence vote proposed by the opposition. He stated that a country should never “become slaves” to another country simply because it is in debt. “In that situation, death is preferable to servitude,” he concluded. Imran Khan further stated that his party will be victorious in the elections.