Pakistan’s enemies backing Dharnas, claims Khawaja Asif

LONDON: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the government was aware that “international players” were supporting dharnas in Islamabad as part of the wider agenda against the South Asian country.
The defense minister alleged that dharna leaders Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri had done everything to “sabotage” and derail the government so that to keep Pakistan backward.
Khawaja Asif was talking to media here after attending the energy conference with PM Nawaz Sharif on Thursday.
He alleged that dharnas in Islamabad has created extremely negative impact at the international level and “succeeded to some extent to damage Pakistan’s standings.”He said that there are some “international forces who don’t want to see a self-sufficient Pakistan, they want Pakistan to remain dependent and compliant and they were supporting dharnas through various means.”
He said the so-called “junoon” of Imran Khan was not about Pakistan but all about “usurping power, at any cost and through any means possible, they would not hesitate from ruling on the ruins in their desperation for power.” The defense minister said that dharna leaders are being exposed. “Dr Qadri has already left Pakistan. Imran Khan has become Ailaan (announcement) Khan.
He addressed about 400 people daily, attends protest for about two hours and then leaves. His dharna is dying its slow death. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has shown patience and as a result the government was receiving the political dividends,” he added.
Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan’s life depended on dealing effectively with the energy crisis. He said that this was government first priority and the government was dealing with this issue on short and long terms basis.