World News | Imran Khan rules out talks with Pakistan govt, but open to talks with military

ISLAMABAD, 13 June (PTI) Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out talks with the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government but appears eager to start talks with military establishments, saying they are the “real” decision-making in the country. By.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after appearing at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection with multiple cases, the Pakistani Justice Instigation (PTI) party chief said politicians, including the current ruler, were “powerless” and whether they had right to dialogue.

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Asked whether he was ready to hold talks with politicians on the economic charter, Khan claimed the establishment was “the real decision-maker and power is concentrated” in the military, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday.

General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, vowed to bring to justice all those “responsible for the disgrace brought to the country on May 9” and said such “orchestrated tragic events” would never be allowed to happen again “, at any cost.

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The PTI chief also accused former army chief (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa of “betrayal” of him and said he could have fired Bajwa on at least three separate occasions, but he exercised restraint, the report said.

The powerful Pakistani army has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its more than 75-year existence and wields considerable power in security and foreign policy matters.

The former cricketer-turned-politician also said he did not believe in “revenge and would fight for the rule of law” if he came to power again.

Referring to the discounted Russian crude arriving in Pakistan over the weekend, Khan claimed his government was buying Russian oil at a 40% discount.

“Is this the solution? Is this a reason to overthrow my regime?” he asked.

Pakistan on Monday began shipping much-anticipated shipments of Russian crude to a refinery in the country’s port city of Karachi.

Khan dismissed the impression of being under pressure, saying he was more concerned about the economy.

Debt service has exceeded the federal budget, the economy is on the brink of default and industry has nearly collapsed, he said, adding that all economic indicators have fallen in just one year.

Blaming the current government for the economic downturn, the PTI chief said the only way to solve the problem was to explore revenue-generating channels, massive reforms and drastic measures.

More than 100 major party leaders and former lawmakers have defected and joined the military-backed crackdown on PTI amid the May 9 violence after Khan was arrested by paramilitary rangers in Islamabad for corruption. Istekham Pakistan Party (IPP), leading another PTI deserter, Jahangir Khan Tareen.

Khan called the recent departure of key PTI leaders a “blessing in disguise”.

The PTI chief has declared that he will continue to fight for his cause even if all the leaders of his party resign.

In violent protests following his arrest, PTI operatives vandalized more than 20 military installations and government buildings, including the regiment commander’s residence in Lahore, the Mianwali airbase and the ISI complex in Faisalabad. The Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by mobs for the first time. Khan was later released on bail.

Khan expressed concern about his court-martial for violence-related reasons and said authorities were having “approved persons charge him” under the Army Act, the report said. He also called the trial of civilians by military courts the end of democracy and justice.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the body of content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)