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Imran Khan, FMR PM of Pakistan calls to end corruption, invite investment
Lahore, Pakistan – In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a change in the country’s civil-military imbalance, saying it is necessary to ensure democracy in the country.
Lahore, Pakistan – In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for a change in the country’s civil-military imbalance, saying it is necessary to ensure democracy in the country.
He was deposed from office in April last year after losing a confidence vote in parliament and is now optimistic that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would win provincial and national elections in October.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Imran Khan takes bulletproof measures to a whole new level with a protective bucket, as he faces court surrounded by human shields in Lahore.<br><br>Video Credit: Pakistan Observer <a href="https://t.co/KF7c8nKpyo">pic.twitter.com/KF7c8nKpyo</a></p>— Associates Times (@TimesAssociates) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimesAssociates/status/1643877012853997569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Khan also commented on the recent ruling by Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordering snap polls in the politically crucial Punjab province on May 14, calling it a major victory for his party.
“I am confident of victory for our party in forthcoming provincial as well as national elections, due by October this year,” he said.
Khan who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said the country’s powerful military needs to stop interfering in political matters and allow elected governments to function independently.
“The civil-military imbalance has to change, and that is not in the interest of Pakistan,” he said. Khan has been a vocal critic of the military’s involvement in politics. He has accused the military of rigging elections and pressuring judges to rule in its favour.
“The army has a role, but it is not their job to run the country,” he said. “The elected government has to have the power to run the country.”
Imran Khan discussed his party’s decision to dissolve the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the government’s delay in holding elections in these provinces.
Khan stressed that according to the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of dissolving the assemblies. He added that once this time has passed, it becomes unclear who will decide when the elections will take place.
He went on to say that delaying the elections is a violation of the constitution and undermines the democratic process in the country.
“Delaying the elections goes against the very principles of democracy,” he said.
Khan’s comments come amid growing concern over the government’s delay in holding provincial elections, particularly in Punjab, which is considered a politically crucial province in the country.
Imran Khan also criticized the country’s judicial system and called for reforms to ensure the rule of law.
“Pakistan is ranked 129 out of 140 countries in the rule of law index. Denmark is ranked number one. Denmark’s per capita income is $68,600 whereas Pakistan’s is $1,600. So, the two are connected,” he said. “If we want to attract investment and improve our economy, we need to have a strong justice system and the rule of law.”
Khan also spoke about Pakistan’s foreign policy, saying it should be focused on the interests of the Pakistani people. “We should have a good relationship with all the countries. We should not become part of any blocs,” he said. “India has a very mature foreign policy. It is trading with the US, it is trading with China. It is getting cheap oil from Russia. We, on the other hand, negotiated a discounted price but our government didn’t pay any attention to it, resulting in high oil prices, high inflation, and poverty.”
Khan’s PTI party has been a rising force in Pakistani politics in recent years, promising to fight corruption and improve the economy. However, critics have accused Khan of failing to deliver on his promises and of being too focused on populist rhetoric.
