Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Monday accused the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a 13-party ruling alliance, of hatching a conspiracy to pit his party against the country's armed forces.
Addressing via video link from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, the PTI chief said that the efforts were being made to make PTI and the army come face to face.
The former premier accused the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) of trying to incite quarrel between PTI and the army as the ruling coalition cannot defeat his party in the upcoming general elections.
“This is my country and my army. I will live and die here. I will not flee abroad,” Khan said.
The PTI chief said despite death threats he was appearing before courts as he was only concerned about the country and not afraid of death.
Imran Khan alleged that a “trap” had been laid out at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC), where he arrived on Saturday to attend a hearing in the Toshakhana case, adding that “na maloom afraad” (unknown people) had been stationed outside to kill him.
The former premier said that his political opponents were not concerned about the country’s issues and conspiring to eliminate him to protect their vested interests.
The PTI chief said what the ‘imported government’ did to him had never happened in the history of the country.
“Their aim is to kill me by spreading chaos when I go out to appear before court. My life is in danger, he said.”
Lashing out at Caretaker Punjab CM, the former PM said that Mohsin Naqvi was appointed to the post not for holding elections but to banish PTI.
Khan also urged overseas Pakistanis to apprise the international community of how human rights of his party workers are being violated by the incumbent PDM government.
“We will approach international human rights organisations. We will contact countries through PTI offices abroad to inform them about the human rights violations in Pakistan,” he added.
The PTI chief also denounced the ruling party leaders for calling his party workers terrorists, saying such allegations will spread hatred and divide the nation.
Imran Khan's statement comes hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged overseas Pakistanis not to support the "vicious" conspiracy against the Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
The premier called the "smear campaign" against the army chief a "continuation" of a conspiracy against the military, which he said was "unacceptable."
PM Shehbaz also accused Imran Khan of "damaging the country and undermining our armed forces and their leadership."
The prime minister also instructed the interior minister to strictly deal with those running such a smear campaign against the institutions.
He also warned of strict legal action against those fanning chaos and subversion in the country.
A campaign against an army chief appointed purely on merit for the first time in the country’s history could only be an agenda of the anti-Pakistan elements, PM Shehbaz added.
