Arresting Imran Khan will worsen crisis in Pakistan: Khalilzad

• Zalmay Khalilzad said arresting Imran Khan will worsen the crisis
• He suggested holding general elections in early June
• He said political parties should discuss the way forward

Former United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad expressed concern over the situation in Pakistan and said arresting former prime minister Imran Khan will aggravate the crisis.

In the series of tweets, the diplomat and foreign policy expert suggest holding general elections in June this year to avert a meltdown.

“Pakistan faces a triple crisis, political, economic, and security. Despite great potential, it is underperforming and falling far behind its archrival, India,” he said, adding that it is time for serious soul-searching, bold thinking, and strategizing.

Khalilzad expressed concerns over the situation in Pakistan by “cannibalizing” leaders, saying a wrong path has been set. He said arresting PTI chairman Imran Khan will worsen the situation.

“The sequential cannibalizing of its leaders through jailing, execution, assassination, etc. is the wrong path. Arresting Imran Khan will only deepen the crisis,” he said.

Advertisement

#Pakistan faces a triple crisis: political, economic, and security. Despite great potential, it is underperforming and falling far behind its archrival, India. It is time for serious soul-searching, bold thinking, and strategizing. Here are my thoughts:
[Thread]

— Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) March 14, 2023

The US senior diplomat suggested setting a date for national elections in early June to avert a meltdown. He also urged political parties to hold dialogue to rescue the nation from the current crisis.

“Use this time for the main political parties to confont what has gone wrong and propose a specific plan to rescue and put the country on a path to stability, security, and prosperity,” he added.

He said whichever political party wins the election will have a mandate from the people on what must be done.

2. Use this time for the main political parties to confont what has gone wrong and propose a specific plan to rescue and put the country on a path to stability, security, and prosperity. Whichever party wins the election will have a mandate from the people on what must be done.

— Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) March 14, 2023

Also Read

US congressman expresses concern over human rights violations in Pakistan

US congressman Brad Sherman raised concerns over human rights violations in Pakistan...