SWABI: Imran links jirga success to troop withdrawal
By Muqaddam Khan
SWABI, Aug 11: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on Saturday said that the joint Pakistan-Afghan jirga could not restore peace to Afghanistan unless foreign occupation forces left the war-ravaged country.
Speaking at a public meeting here, he said the US forces should let the Afghan people decide their future and work for rebuilding their country. The grand jirga, being held in Kabul, could not achieve its objectives unless the Americans stopped meddling in the Afghan affairs, he added.
“If the Americans do not withdraw from Afghanistan they will meet with the same fate the former Soviet Union and the UK met,” he warned. “Both these powers failed to achieve their objectives in Afghanistan and the Americans should learn from the history.”The PTI chief said the Americans were mistaken to pin hopes on President Musharraf because days of his rule were numbered.
“We need fair and free elections and anything short of that will be a complete disaster for the country and its people,” he said, adding that impartial elections under the Musharraf regime were not possible.
Mr Khan criticised President Musharraf and America’s meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs and said the US wanted to accomplish its global agenda and Gen Musharraf desired to prolong his ‘illegal’ rule.
The best option for President Musharraf was to give up power and leave the political turf for genuine players, he said, adding that the people were no longer ready to allow him to rule the country.
“A great change will take place in the country within a few days,” he said. However, he did not elaborate what kind of change was expected.
The PTI chief called for a peaceful settlement of the Waziristan crisis and demanded that the killing of Pukhtuns should be stopped immediately. “In future, we will never allow any leader of the country to use our forces against our own people.”
The present National Assembly had only served the interests of a military dictator and was fit for corrupt and turncoat politicians, he said, adding that only an independent Election Commission could hold free and fair elections in the country. He alleged that the government was planning to rig the upcoming polls.
The meeting was addressed by PTI provincial vice-president Asad Qaisar, district president Mohammad Sohail and Rangaiz Khan.
