Imran Khan warns of becoming ‘more dangerous’

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday asked the judiciary to explain why it felt the need to open its doors at midnight on Saturday, hours before he was ousted from the prime minister's office via a successful no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly.

Thousands of supporters of Khan's PTI party rallied to accuse the country's new leadership of being an 'imposed government' that colluded with the US to oust Khan. Khan claims Washington opposes him because of his independent foreign policy favouring China and Russia.

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The PTI chairman also warned that he was not that dangerous while he was part of the government, but now that he has been ousted, he will become "more dangerous" for the Opposition.

Khan today, in what was his first public address since losing his government, directly addressed the judiciary and said: "I ask the judiciary that when you opened the court in the dead of night... this nation has known me for 45 years. Have I ever broken the law? When I played cricket, did anyone every accuse me of match fixing?

Supporters of Imran Khan attend an anti-government rally in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Wednesday. AP

"During my 25 years of politics, I have never provoked the public against state institutions or the judiciary because my life and death is in Pakistan. I ask you, what crime had I exactly committed that you opened up the courts at midnight?"

Analysts said that Pakistan’s former prime minister Khan will fight back, who continues to enjoy a sizable support base. Khan has already called for a massive public rally at Peshawar on Wednesday. Such protest rallies could lead to disruption in the social order.

Khan addressed his successor and newly appointed prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and told him to stop the harassment of PTI supporters, according to Dawn.

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attend a public gathering in Peshawar, Pakistan. Reuters

The former prime minister asked security institutions if the country's nuclear assets would be safe under the leadership of the Sharif-led government.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Khan said: "Whenever a prime minister of Pakistan was removed, people used to distribute sweets. But I am thankful to God that I was removed and you all came and gave me such respect.

"Pakistan has now become a nation. Whoever thought that an imported government of the US would be accepted by this nation ... on Sunday, the entire nation gave their answer that the imported government stands rejected.

Khan said that the "decisive moment" has arrived and the nation needs to choose if it wants slavery or liberty. "Do we want to be the slaves of the US' or do we want real freedom?"