Imran Khan alleges government is trying to score ‘technical knockout’ against him

by Press Trust of IndiaEmbarrassed former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday accused the PML-N-led coalition government of trying to “technically knock” against him and destroy his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ahead of the elections. Still working.

Khan told a group of journalists at his Zaman Park residence surrounded by Punjab Police, “The attempt to destroy PTI has been going on for more than a year. But whatever they are doing is only strengthening the party.” Have been.”

Asserting that what the government was doing was never seen before in the country’s history, the 70-year-old Khan said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government was trying to “technically knock” against him to disqualify his party. Still working. contesting election.

Khan alleged, “My arrest…they want to eliminate me and ban PTI…it’s all part of London’s plan.”

He said, “Wherever Pakistan stands today, any path you take, except holding free and fair elections, will lead to its destruction.” “The only way out of this quagmire is free and fair elections.”

Khan has been demanding early national elections since losing a vote of confidence in parliament in April last year.

The current term of the National Assembly will complete its five-year term in August this year. The Election Commission is preparing to hold the general elections by October.

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Khan also demanded an independent probe into the 9 May riots, claiming that an organized conspiracy was behind the violence that followed his arrest in a corruption case.

He said, “Everything was planned. That’s why I demand that an independent commission be set up. And I will tell you what will come out after its investigation. We will give you evidence – how people were attacked under a plan.” forced to do.”

Violent protests followed Khan’s arrest on 9 May. His party workers vandalized a dozen military installations, including Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander’s House), Mianwali Airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time.

Police put the death toll in the violent clashes at 10, while Khan’s party claimed 40 of its workers were killed in firing by security personnel.

Khan said that a plan has been drawn up to pit his party against the army. Khan claimed, “They plan to finish the PTI through the army.”

“PDM is behind this and it is very dangerous for the country,” he said. “They cannot compete with us in the elections and now they want to pit us against the army.”

The PDM comprises most of the political parties in the ruling coalition, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Khan also criticized the police crackdown on his residence in his absence, saying that his wife was alone at home when an armored personnel carrier with more than 40 policemen entered the house.

Police had raided Khan’s Zaman Park residence in March to arrest him, but strong resistance from his party workers foiled that plan.

Khan’s remarks come at a time when a large number of Punjab Police personnel have surrounded his house and may launch a security operation any time to arrest ‘terrorists’ allegedly holed up in his residence as they The government’s 24-hour deadline to hand it over has expired.

He was ousted from power in April last year after losing a vote of no confidence in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. was a part

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