PTI workers wanted to join the Faizabad sit-in, says Imran Khan

Published November 29, 2017
"The government has no idea what would have happened if this matter had escalated," says Khan. —Online
"The government has no idea what would have happened if this matter had escalated," says Khan. —Online

PTI chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said his party workers were willing to join the Faizabad sit-in as "the matter had left the realm of politics".

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Khan said, "The government should know that whenever a question is raised on the finality of prophethood, there's always a reaction of great proportions because of the religious history attached with the matter."

"The whole nation should be grateful that the matter was wrapped up in two days, otherwise there would have been a catastrophe of great magnitude and these people [the government] would have hidden out of sight leaving the nation to bear the brunt of the disaster," Khan said.

"The government has no idea what would have happened if this matter had escalated; they should thank the army for stepping in and diffusing the situation," he added.

"I prayed two nafil-i-shukrana (prayer of thanks) when the army stepped in and fixed the situation" following the the botched Faizabad operation, the PTI chief further said.

He accused the government of trying to make changes to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat declaration "through stealth" without discussing the matter at any parliamentary forum.

"We were all taken aback when this matter first blew up," he claimed.

"The question to be answered now is that who was responsible for this change in the declaration: did Zahid Hamid act alone, or were other people involved? This question will now have to be answered as it is part of the demands (made by Tehreek-i-Labbik Ya Rasool Allah) that the government has agreed upon," he said.

"Elections strengthen any nation and incompetent governments like this one weaken it," Khan said, while reiterating his earlier demand for early elections.

Opinion

Editorial

Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...
Trump’s folly
Updated 13 Feb, 2025

Trump’s folly

This latest pronouncement only reinforces the fears of those who see the plan as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.
Corruption ranking
13 Feb, 2025

Corruption ranking

IT comes as little surprise. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, unveiled on...
Support from remittances
13 Feb, 2025

Support from remittances

EVEN though workers’ remittances dipped, albeit negligibly, in January on a month-over-month basis, the earnings...