Here’s an interesting interview with good insight into the present state of affairs in Pakistan.
BTW its really nice to know that Jemima is pursuing degrees in Islamic Studies, she’ll become a true ambassador for Pak and Islam in the West. Who knows she might even make degrees in Islamic Studies fashionable for us Pakistanis for a change.
Imran Khan’s Exclusive Interview
Friday January 31, 2003
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ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf during an exclusive interview with PakTribune.
**From a victor cricket captain in World Cup (in 1992) to advocate for change, Imran Khan has never looked back. He wants to proceed and most importantly take the people along with him. Formation of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, he says, was the first step to ensure equality and justice to the people of the country.
Khan is not satisfied with the restoration of democracy in the country, which he feels is hostage to Presidency. “The set up is in danger”, Khan, elected as Member of the National Assembly for the first time in October 10 polls, fears.
Following are details of his exclusive panel interview with Online:**
Question: Are you satisfied with the restoration of democracy in the country and do you think the Prime Minister is a powerful Chief Executive?
Imran Khan: (Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan) Jamali is a puppet Chief Executive. The Powers still rest with the uniformed President.
Jamali just has responsibilities and no authority. This is just a drama. I am not satisfied with the restoration of the democracy in the country.
Musharraf, Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain are playing games to ditch each other. :smash:
As far as Jamali is concerned, he doesn’t even have hold on the party. Chaudhry Shujaat is running the PML-Q while Musharraf is controlling the country.
Q: Do you think the set up will remain stable in these circumstances?
IK: The set up is in danger. All of them want to become more powerful and this can prove fatal for the system.
Q: Do you see any change in the system after the October polls?
IK: I don’t see anything like it. It is a repetition of the same old system. If the same system was to be revived then Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif should have been allowed to come back and take the reigns.
Q: Are you satisfied with the general polls’ results?
IK: Musharraf wanted a pro-regime government before general polls no matter how much corrupt people make it to the assemblies.
Musharraf achieved his target, now the problem is to run the system. Let’s see what happens.
Q: Some say King’s party was imposed!!!
IK: Yes, I agree. The establishment of the King’s party government caused heavy damage to the democracy in the country.
Massive pre and post-poll rigging was carried to introduce favourable governments in the centre and provinces.
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Imran Khan being interviewed at PakTribune’s Head office in Islamabad
Q: You were also among the news about deals?
IK: I am against striking deals. The government did contact me but I refused.
I did not want to co-operate with a government who accommodated corrupt people in abundance. I did not want to work with the corrupt people.
The regime was not ready to talk to Pakistan Peoples party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal before polls but it was prepared to negotiate matters with PTI.
This was a chance for me to secure a seat (slot) but I did no compromise on principles.
Q: Analysts suggest you could have won more seats in the National and provincial Assemblies by forming alliances?
IK: The election settlement with National Alliance would have given PTI more seats in the assemblies but it would have harmed the party’s image.
We should have formed alliance with MMA before polls. We will work with them in future on issue to issue basis. Now we are in a take off position.
Q: What’s your stand on President in uniform and Legal Framework Order?
IK: We reject President in uniform and Legal Framework Order. My party wants a civilian head of State in place.
This was the same reason I did not vote for Jamali during the leader of the House elections. I wanted to vote for him as he belonged to a smaller province but I opted otherwise because he was a nominee of the establishment.
Q: Do you disapprove LFO in total?
IK: No, some sections of the LFO can be accepted after approval from the parliament. The parliament has to decide which sections to recommend as part of the constitution.
Q: Will you comment on Musharraf’s performance?
IK: I think he had a golden chance to improve the things but he did not implement his 7-point agenda.
Q: Your supporters wanted to see you as PM!!!
IK: (Smiles) the people had seconded me as Prime Minister during the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital campaign for which I am thankful to them.
Q: We have been hearing that your wife (Jemima Khan) is also jumping into politics?
IK: She is doing her masters in Islamic Studies. She wants to do her PhD in the same subject in future. She is also active in politics.
I am optimistic that Jemima will play a positive role to project Islam in the Western world. She will tell them about Islam in their own language. I think she will be very successful to undo misunderstandings.
Online Panel: Thank you for being with us
IK: It was a pleasure. You all have been great to talk to.