Balochistan issue a matter of ‘grave concern’: Imran Khan

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, terming Balochistan issue to be of “grave concern”, confirmed to the media on Saturday that he plans to talk to Baloch leaders – even those in exile.

He said that his party, keeping in view the seriousness of the law and order situation in Balochistan, was preparing a comprehensive package which could be acceptable to all Baloch parties, and added that his recent meeting with Baloch leader and former Balochistan chief minister Akhtar Mengal was fruitful.

He also accused the president of the country and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif of being afraid of the ‘tsunami’ his party has vowed to bring.

“The two brothers – [President Asif Ali] Zardari and Nawaz – have always been together. They have only separated due to the fear of the tsunami.”

They are together because their interests are the same; their money is lying in foreign banks, Khan added and said that they won’t do anything which will remove them from power. “They have been together for four years, how can they now blame each other for conspiracy.”

He accused the Punjab government of being negligent in the dengue epidemic and the ongoing PIC medicine issue in the province. “Only Punjab government is responsible… Be it crime, law and order or corruption, which area have they showed improvement in?”

Commenting on Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) desire of making an alliance with the PTI, Khan said that if MQM ends their “politics of weapons”, only then will the PTI consider an alliance with them. For PML-N, Khan said that the party would have to declare their assets for an alliance with the PTI.

Regarding the memo issue, Khan said that the matter was over. “There is nothing left in the memo issue,” he said while referring to aftermath of the scandal.

He further claimed that even if all the political parties get together to thwart the onslaught of the ‘tsunami’, it won’t be stopped.