Pakistan: For Imran Khan, Bahawalpur rally dearer than IDPs

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PTI chief cites PTI’s Bahawalpur meeting as excuse for turning down premier’s repeated offers to visit IDPs camps in Bannu, instructs KP CM to accompany PM, COAS in his place

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has declined Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s repeated invitations for a joint visit today (Friday) to the camps of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in Bannu, saying that he has a rally in Bahawalpur.

According to sources, the PTI chief had turned down the invitation owing to his concerns that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government was not consulted before the launch of military offensive in tribal areas while the prime minister had also not released funds for IDPs that were demanded by the KP government. However, Khan has instructed KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to visit the IDPs camps in Bannu in his place. Reportedly, the premier had asked Khan to accompany him alongside Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to give a message to the victims of terrorism that the entire nation was standing by them during difficult times.

“If we go together, it will raise the hopes of IDPs, promote national unity and raise morale of armed forces,” Nawaz was quoted as saying.

According to sources, Khan was twice invited to the IDPs camps owing to his capacity as being the head of the ruling party in KP. Not only Khan was told about COAS’s presence at the camps but was also offered that a special plane would be placed at his disposal to take him to Bahawalpur to address the PTI meeting.

While talking to a private TV channel, PTI leader Imran Ismail termed the premier’s invitation “a political move”. He said such a move might be aimed towards reconciliation.

The PTI leader said that joint visits could be arranged at any time, however, need of the time was to eradicate problems facing the IDPs of North Waziristan.

Over 450,000 people have been displaced as a direct result of the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan. Most of the displaced people have gathered in Bannu, with some in DI Khan.

While the premier will be visiting the IDPs camps today with COAS in Bannu, Khan is scheduled to be in Bahawalpur to make the announcement regarding PTI’s future course of action on its key demand for recounting of votes in four constituencies.

On June 17, Khan had denounced the deadly clashes between the police and supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and announced to hold a protest against the incident in Bahawalpur.