Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that government should also pardon over seven million prisoners languishing in jails of the country, if it grants general amnesty to Benazir Bhutto and activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
"What will be the fate of all poor prisoners languishing in different jails committing petty crimes, if the government pardons those big fish who are involved in cases of loot and murders which the government is going to relax only to save its sinking regime", said cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, while addressing a party convention here on Monday.
He criticised President General Pervez Musharraf for preparing corruption cases of over Rs 100 billion against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto by spending billion of rupees, but now he was ready to waive off them just to save his regime. On the other hand, he claimed the MQM has also asked President Musharraf to give relaxation in different cases pending against its workers.
"Look at the authority of a single person, who can pardon the looter of national wealth only to prolong his own rule", he maintained. Imran Khan was also critical of former prime minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto for negotiating with President Musharraf what he said against the ideology of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, wishes of party workers and democratic norms.
He said that both President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto have decided to fight against their own people in the name of war on terror. He recalled that PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had written in his book that America was gaining control of the Third World through its own armed forces.
He alleged that General Pervez Musharraf use army against his own people at the behest of United States, which he termed tantamount to suicide. The PTI chief was of the view that within a short span of time it would be clear whether the reign of the country would fall in the hands of people's representatives or in the hands of the so-called liberals.
He appealed to the political forces to end politics of interests and politics of power, rather adopt politics of principles. Imran Khan was optimistic that the PTI would prove to be the largest ideological political party in the coming years due to its principled stance on the issues of national importance. He said the PTI does not run after the government but do politics of ideology and would continue so in future.
Earlier, Raja Adnan Kiani, who recently joined PTI after quitting PML (Q) said that he was ousted from party for offering fateha for the departed souls who died in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa operation. He said that if Rasheed Ghazi was terrorist, then MQM chief Altaf Hussain is no less than him and he should also be punished.