Imran Khan has also claimed that a conspiracy to assassinate him was being hatched in Pakistan and abroad
File image of ousted Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan. AFP
The US has made Pakistan a slave without invading it, former prime minister Imran Khan claimed, asserting that the people will never accept an “imported government.”
Khan, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, was voted out of power last month through a no-confidence motion, which he alleges was plotted by the US with the help of local players over his pursuance of an independent foreign policy.
After his ouster, Khan has held several public rallies in different cities, labelling the new government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as traitors and corrupt rulers allegedly imposed at the behest of the US.
Following his ouster, he has blamed the US for conspiring against his government an allegation the US and the incumbent government have refuted.
“The US has made Pakistan a slave without having to invade it. The people of Pakistan will never accept the imported government,” he said while addressing a rally in Faisalabad in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday.
The former premier accused the US of being a self-centred country that does not help others without seeing its own interest.
Khan on Sunday said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will “beg” for money from the US Secretary Antony Blinken so that he (Khan) cannot come back to power.
An invitation was extended by Blinken for Pakistan’s participation in the ministerial meeting on Global Food Security to be held in New York on 18 May.
Khan accused Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari of being corrupt and stashing their wealth across the globe.
“Since all of Bilawal’s wealth is stored outside of the country, he cannot dare to upset the US, otherwise he will lose everything,” Khan said at the rally.
Meanwhile, Khan has claimed that a conspiracy to assassinate him was being hatched in Pakistan and abroad, warning that if anything happens to him, the people will come to know about the perpetrators through a video message he has recently recorded and placed in a safe place.
A conspiracy is afoot to take my life. I got full knowledge of this conspiracy a few days ago. The conspiracy is being hatched here and abroad against me in closed rooms. I have recorded a video about this conspiracy, naming all those involved in it. If something happens to me then the people will come to know who were behind this conspiracy, Khan had said during a rally in Sialkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Consequently, the Pakistan government on Monday beefed up security for Khan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held two threat assessment meetings with interior ministry officials on Monday, following which it was decided to upgrade Khan’s security, the Geo TV reported.
At Khan’s residence in Bani Gala, 94 security officers will be deployed, of which, 22 men will be from the Islamabad police and 72 from the Frontier Constabulary, the report said, quoting the spokesperson of the interior ministry.
In addition, 26 officers from the security service and nine military personnel will also be made available, it said.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police has deployed 26 cops and Gilgit-Baltistan has also sent six men for the former prime minister’s protective detail, the report stated.
A chief security officer will be provided to Khan, the spokesperson of the interior ministry said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has also directed the provincial governments to ensure the former premier has adequate security when he is holding political rallies across the country, the report said.
When Imran Khan is on the move, four police vehicles will accompany him with 23 police personnel, as well as a vehicle with five Rangers personnel.
The interior ministry spokesperson added that if there is a specific threat to the former prime minister more security will be made available, the Geo TV report added.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday had vowed that if Khan showed proof of the alleged assassination plot, the Pakistan government would offer him more security cover than what is being currently provided to the prime minister.
Khan has already announced a long march in Islamabad. He said the date of the march would be made public after 20 May.
With input from PTI
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