Is Imran Khan really in danger?

“Not just Imran Khan but all the citizens of the country are under serious threat”

Amir ul Azeem, JI Leader

If we look at the recent situation in the country and the assassination attempt on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Wazirabad on November 3, 2022, his statement of being in danger might be true to some extent. However, not just Khan but all the citizens of the country are facing the same fate, as we cannot declare any place in the country as safe, be it the places of worship, any shopping centre, public parks, etc.

Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism since the invasion of Afghanistan by US forces, which led to huge losses of human lives, not only of our soldiers but also of our innocent citizens. Unfortunately, our governments take dictation from the US and other global powers to form their policies. In Khan’s case, the government has again used an old tactic of withdrawing the security of the former prime minister, which has become a norm for all the political parties, who, after coming into power, use it as a tool to exploit their opponents.

When Khan was premier, he exploited the opposition leaders for one reason or another, and now he is confronted with the same situation. The controversial decisions taken by the judiciary have been the biggest concern, as it seems that the powerful elites are holding the strings of the judiciary. Despite having the same laws for all, most of our politicians and elites get relief from the judiciary on the basis of their influence in the power corridors. Another interesting fact is that when an accused gets elected to the national or provincial assemblies, he gets acquitted by the courts, while those who were thrown out of the government started facing various charges and were put behind bars.

With the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, the government seems uninterested in taking effective measures to protect its citizens. It is evident from the recent blast in the police lines in Peshawar, where more than 100 people lost their lives. We need to prioritise making policies and taking decisions to ensure the security of the citizens while properly equipping the personnel of the law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties in a safe manner.

However, all governments have failed to work toward the country’s development. Rising inflation is continuously battering the common people, while the government is seemingly indifferent towards the betterment of the citizens.

“I do not think Imran is under any serious threat”

Saleem Mandviwala, PPP Leader

I do not think the PTI chairman is under any serious threat, as he is repeatedly claiming in his statement. He has levelled serious and baseless allegations against PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and others, which I find quite disappointing. Anyone can appear in the media and claim to have threats to their lives, but they will have to provide evidence and proof to support their claims and accusations.

It is unfortunate that the leader of a political party accuses his opponents just to remain in the limelight. Khan’s continuous statements of being in danger seem more like a tactic to stay relevant in the country’s politics. I am sure he will soon take a U-turn on his statement and apologise once he appears in court.

By levelling such baseless accusations and irresponsible statements, Khan has created problems and put the lives of several other politicians in danger. Accusing former President Zardari of conspiring to assassinate him is nothing more than a joke. If you ask the PTI leaders, many of them, who are my friends, say that they do not know of any such thing or that Khan’s life is under any threat. They feel he [Khan] has lost his mind, and nobody is taking him seriously.

Such irresponsible statements not only create problems for others but also result in creating discontent among the masses, as Zardari is not only a party leader but a former president of Pakistan with a highly respected political stature. The only thing Khan wants to gain from such statements is popularity among the masses, which he is losing at a rapid pace, and the ability to discredit all other political leaders of the country, which he is failing miserably at.

To my surprise, the PTI chairman is now requesting information about Zardari’s foreign assets. How can a person ask such a question when he is accusing him of planning to murder him with the help of a terrorist group? This is insane! The party has served a legal notice on Khan and demanded an unconditional apology for accusing PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari of allegedly paying a huge amount to a terrorist group for his murder.

Khan has the tendency to change his stance within days, and in this case too, he will change his statement. This is something I can put in writing!

“It is the responsibility of the govt to provide security to the former PM”

Ali Zaidi, PTI Leader

If Imran Khan is saying that his life is under threat, he must have proof and documentary evidence based on which he feels that way. Although the PTI has taken security measures to ensure his security, it is the responsibility of the government to provide security to the former prime minister.

Earlier, Khan warned that an assassination plot had been hatched against him, and we all saw it happen in Wazirabad. However, from what we have seen in the last couple of months, it seems the federal government and the caretaker government in Punjab are acting on someone else’s agenda. The caretaker government in Punjab does not seem “neutral.” There has been no example in the country of such a biassed caretaker setup that is going after one specific political party and its leaders. Instead of doing what this government is supposed to do, the caretaker government is just arresting the PTI leaders.

They are oblivious to the fact that by acting in this manner, they are not serving the country but rather aggravating an already tense situation. I do not understand what they are trying to achieve by arresting the PTI leadership in fabricated cases and threatening and conspiring against Khan in various cases. The authorities should focus on working for the betterment of the people rather than getting involved in petty actions to pressurise and harass the opposition party and its leadership. Those in power need to understand that they cannot improve the economy or the overall situation of the country by carrying out such actions; instead, they are hurting Pakistan’s interests.

The Punjab caretaker government, along with the federal government, is only using these tactics to increase political pressure on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its leadership. I find it amusing that out of all the people, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has filed a defamation suit against Khan, while the PTI chairman has already said that he stands by his statement.

The country is reeling from one crisis after another, causing huge losses to not only the businesses but also creating a lot of difficulties for the people to survive. There is an acute shortage of gas, electricity, and other basic essential items across the country.

The infrastructure in the Sindh province is in shambles, while the provincial government, along with those in the federal government, is bent upon targeting one person only.