- Imran Khan insists the establishment gave him three options.
- He allows submission of Reference against Judge Faez Isa was “mistake”.
- PTI was removed from the government as part of “international conspiracy,” he said. adds.
ISLAMABAD: Ex-prime minister Imran Khan on Monday responded to the Toshakana controversy and said they were his gifts, so it was his choice to keep them or not.
“Measure tof, measure marzi [my gift, my choice]”, Chairman of PTI, who became first prime minister to be expelled due to distrust vote, told reporters during an informal conversation.
issue came to light last week when Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan had sold out to Toshakhan during his tenure gifts in Dubai worth 140 million rupees.
According to available data, former the prime minister received 58 gifts worth more than 140 million rupees from world leaders during his three-and-half-year lingered and kept everything of them either by paying a small amount or even without payment.
Read more: Prime Minister Shehbaz says Imran Khan sold Toshakhan gifts worth 140 million rupees in Dubai
“I contributed gift sent by the President to my residence. Whatever I took from Toshacany on record. I bought gifts after 50% payment of in cost” Khan said.
He said PTI government changed in policy of keeping gits and incrementing price from 15% to 50%.
“If I wanted make money i would announce my house like camp office but I didn’t,” he said. added.
Three options from the institution
former prime minister insisted that the establishment give him three optionswhich is contrary to Pakistan’s military statement that options were not put forward by them.
Khan’s comments came after CEO Major General Babar Iftikhar, in press briefing on Thursday, said during the deadlock between the opposition and the government, the Prime Minister’s Office contacted military leadership in help resolve political crisis.
“The Army Commander and ISI Director General visited the Prime Minister’s office at their request. play in role of intermediary.”
Read more: Government tries to push PTI out of political arena through the case of foreign funding, says Imran Khan
Options of in no-confidence petition, resignation of the prime minister and dissolution of assembly after removal of the proposal was discussed there, he said, adding that ex-prime minister announced the third option as “acceptable”.
In response to a question about military, Imran Khan said he would not say anything that would harm the country. “I am not saying anything because Pakistan needs a strong and united army. We are a Muslim country and a strong army is the guarantor of our security.”
former prime minister said that military was on board over visit to Russia, and he called the chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa before his visit.
“Gen Bajwa said we should visit Russia.”
former premier, in response to DG ISPR’s clarification of “three options’ gave him, said: “The establishment gave me three options, so I agreed with election proposal. How could I accept my resignation and no-confidence assumption?”
Reference against Judge Qazi Faez Isa
former prime minister also admitted that feed of link against Judge Qazi Faez Isa was “mistake”.
“Link against Judge of the Supreme Court should not filed, I have no personal animosity with anyone it was sent by the Department of Justice.”
He added that the then law minister informed on Property of Judge Isa and assets.
“CONSPIRACY” against PTI
About partyx public rallies in Peshawar and Karachi after his expulsion from the government, Imran Khan said: “I have never seen such a large number of people coming out in Pakistan.”
He urged the nation not to take new rulers and offered education of independent body for in selection of chief electoral commissioner.
Chairman of the PTI also said they should did not get into unnecessary confrontation with judicial branch.
Read more: Disinformation, propaganda threat to state integrity, says COAS Gen Bajwa
He reaffirmed his position that PTI government was removed as part of “international conspiracy” and urged the nation to disagree.
Referring to the US-India joint statement, he said no. one said when they asked Pakistan to “make more”.
“We are discussing with Russia on weapons, oil, wheat and gas,” he said, adding that Moscow was ready give wheat and oil are 30% cheaper.
“When the country began to prosper economically, this conspiracy was worked out. Independent foreign policy is an in interest of in people,” he said.
Institutions role in appointment of the CEC; Farah Khan controversy
Moving on, former prime minister said the incumbent Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Raja Sultan was appointed after the establishment suggested his name.
The PTI chairman stated that between the then opposition and the government on appointment of chief electoral commissioner.
AT light of situation, the establishment suggested the Sultan’s name, he said, adding that the CEC should appointed through an independent body.
Regarding the controversy around Farah Khan – who was accused for accumulated and is a close friend of Khan Bushra’s wife Bibi – he said that Farah was neither an official nor minister. How could she take money for meeting?”
