‘Imran had talked about advancing towards parliament’

MULTAN: Senior politician Javed Hashmi Friday revealed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had stated in his presence that the sit-in march would advance towards Parliament House and PTV Headquarters and PTI Secretary General Jehangir Tareen and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were also present on the occasion.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Javed Hashmi Hashmi demanded that the government constitute a three-member judicial tribunal led by chief justice of Supreme Court to investigate the alleged telephonic talk of Imran Khan and Arif Alvi regarding attack on PTV Center.
He said the tribunal investigations will bring about the facts. He said the phone tape maligned army and intelligence agencies besides Imran Khan as the blame of anything was abruptly put on the ISI whenever any incident took place in the country.
He said he had also heard the phone tape on TV but he did not talk about it as Imran Khan kept talking about heading towards parliament and PTV buildings in his presence. “While I kept opposing this move,” he claimed.
Hashmi said a message that MQM would support the PTI was also received at the container and Imran Khan kept waiting for Altaf Hussain’s phone but he did not call. He said it was also discussed at the container that Asif Zardari would support the sit-in but my viewpoint was clear that honour of national institutions, especially army, must be kept intact.
“Today whatever is being shown on TV screens is parody of what I have said earlier. Arif Alvi’s phone call is a good parody,” he added. Hashmi disclosed that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had assured Imran Khan removal of PML-N government if Judicial Commission established rigging in the general elections 2013. “But I was not in favour of engaging army in political issues and that’s why I launched a drive within the party,” Hashmi further disclosed.
To a query, he said, “I once talked to Gen Pasha on telephone, who asked me if I had given any statement against him and I told him that I praised him.” He said Gen Hameed Gul had told 20 to 25 people that it was the last night of government but later on he gave some other explanations of his statement. He said we should stay away from current situation of Saudi Arabia.