Imran Khan insists establishment gave him three options

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan Monday insisted that the establishment gave him three options, contradicting the Pakistan military's statement that the options were not put forth by it.

The PTI chairman made these remarks during an informal conversation with journalists in Islamabad today.

Imran Khan's comments came after Director-General Major General Babar Iftikhar, in a press briefing on Thursday, had said that during the deadlock between the Opposition and the government, the PM Office had contacted the military leadership to help resolve the political crisis.

"The army chief and the DG ISI visited the PM Office at their request to play the role of mediator."

Options of the no-confidence motion, PM’s resignation, and the dissolution of assemblies after withdrawal of the motion were discussed there, he had said, adding that the ex-prime minister had declared the third option as “acceptable”.

In response to a question about the military, Imran Khan said that he will not say anything which will harm the country. "I am not saying anything because Pakistan needs a strong and united army. We are a Muslim country and a strong army is a guarantor of our security."

The former prime minister said that the military was onboard over the Russia visit and he telephoned Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa before the visit.

"Gen Bajwa said we must visit Russia."

The former premier, in response to DG ISPR's clarification about the 'three options' given to him, said: "The establishment gave me three options, so I agreed with the election proposal. How could I accept the resignation and no-confidence suggestion?"

Toshakhana gifts

Imran Khan also broke silence over the Toshakhan gifts controversy, saying whatever he took from the treasury was on record.

The issue came to light last week when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan, during his tenure, sold Toshakhana gifts in Dubai worth Rs140 million.

According to reports, the former premier received 58 gifts worth more than Rs140 million from the world leaders during his three-and-a-half-year stint and retained all of them either by paying a negligible amount or even without any payment.

Responding to the allegations, Imran Khan said: "I deposited a gift sent by a president at my residence. Whatever I took from Toshakana is on record. I purchased the gifts after paying 50% of the cost."

He said that the PTI government changed the policy of retaining gits and increased the price from 15% to 50%.

"Mera tohfa, meri marzi [my gift, my choice]."

"Had I wanted to make money, I would have declared my house as a camp office but I did not," he added.

Reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa

The former prime minister also admitted that the filing of a reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a "mistake".

"The reference  against the SC judge should not have been filed, I have no personal enmity with anyone, it was sent by the law ministry."

He added that the then law minister had briefed on Justice Isa's properties and assets.

‘Conspiracy’ against PTI

About the party's public rallies in Peshawar and Karachi after his ouster from the government, Imran Khan said: "I have never seen such a large number of people coming out in Pakistan."

He appealed to the nation to not accept the new rulers and suggested the formation of an independent body for the selection of a chief election commissioner.

The PTI chairman also said that they should not have gotten into an unnecessary confrontation with the judiciary.

He reiterated his stance that the PTI government was removed as part of an "international conspiracy" and urged the nation to not accept this.

Referring to a joint statement from US and India, he said no one spoke when they asked Pakistan to "do more".

"We hold discussions with Russia on arms, oil, wheat and gas," he said, adding Moscow was ready to give wheat and oil 30% cheaper.

"When the country started to prosper economically, this conspiracy was hatched. An independent foreign policy is in the interest of the people," he said.

Establishment's role in CEC's appointment; Farah Khan controversy

Moving on, the former prime minister said the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Raja Sultan was appointed after the establishment suggested his name.

The PTI chairman said a deadlock emerged between the then-Opposition and the then-government on the appointment of the chief election commissioner.

In light of the situation, the establishment suggested Sultan's name, he said, adding that the CEC should be appointed through an independent body.

On the Farah Khan controversy — who has been blamed for hoarding and is a close friend of Khan's wife Bushra Bibi — he said that Farah was not an officeholder nor was she a minister. "How could she have taken money for appointments?"