ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday dubbed the idea of largely-represented All Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the issues related to national security “inappropriate” and called for a closed-door meeting on this issue.
“I realised that perhaps the facts cannot be stated in a large, open forum like an APC because of national security,” Khan stated in a statement.The government put on hold the APC, earlier scheduled for July 12 on the pretext of Imran Khan’s absence from the country, who is now insisting on a closed-door meeting.“I had asked for a meeting to be held between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, [army chief] General Kayani and myself two months ago when I was still in hospital,” Khan said.
He said his reason was, and remains, simply to get to the truth.“So I again want to put forward my request for a closed-door meeting to ascertain all the facts before a more public APC is held to formulate a holistic counter-terrorism policy premised on facts on the ground, not mere political rhetoric once again,” he said.He said that it is essential for political leaders to be apprised of the facts regarding the extent of the commitments still given to the US as well as the reasons behind the continuing sectarian terrorism.
Imran recalled that three APCs have already taken place but because the previous government continuously lied to parliament and people on the understandings given to the US, nothing was achieved beyond rhetoric encompassed in resolutions that were discarded almost as soon as they were written.After the two APCs, organized by the JUI F and ANP, the Taliban stated that dialogue would only be worthwhile if the military was also on the same page.
“Today also it is imperative that the present government inform the political leaders what the nature of their understanding is with the US”, Imran said.He also questioned the IMF package.“Is the IMF package part of the understanding on Pakistan remaining in the War on Terror?”“We also need to know whether the military is on the same page as the civilian leadership, because without this clarity, no dialogue or any other kind of agreement on counterterrorism can proceed successfully,” the PTI chief said.“Unless there is a discourse based on truth, our country will continue to bleed. Khyber Pukhtunkhwa is bearing the brunt of terrorist attacks and unless all the major Pakistani stakeholders are on board the government in that province cannot effectively deal with the law and order situation and terrorism”. – DailyTimes
