'Musharraf is in trouble, won't survive September'

CAUGHT IN KHAN-TROVERSY: Imran Khan predicts doom for Musharraf, clears air on his 'illegitimate' child.

      

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Keywords: Pervez Musharraf, Imran Khan

Imran Khan: I know but this is the first time we will fight an election well prepared and probably in coalition. I reckon will be in power in this assembly.

Karan Thapar: How many seats?

Imran Khan: I can’t say right now but I think will be in power.

Karan Thapar: Can you get over 50?

Imran Khan: Might do…

Karan Thapar: You are not sounding very confident suddenly?

Imran Khan: I am a born optimist I probably would aim much higher but I think the way our vote bank is increasing I think will do very well.

Karan Thapar: Tomorrow, Monday the 16th the Pakistan’s Election Commission will start hearing a reference for your disqualification as a member of the National Assembly on the grounds that you fathered an illegitimate child and violated Article 62 and 63 of Pakistan Constitution. Are you scared the verdict may go against you?

Imran Khan: It hasn’t bothered me for even one minute.

Karan Thapar: So you mean to say you don’t mind even if the verdict goes against you?

Imran Khan: No it’s not that. It’s just too ridiculous to invoke Article 62 and 63 and that too by General Musharraf and the MQM. Remember, these are supposed to be liberal parties. The religious parties have never invoked this Article. This was General Zia-ul-Haq’s article.

Karan Thapar: You may be right that the people invoking the Article may be hypocritical in doing so, but the paradox is that as long as the Article exists in the Constitution, you could be in gross violation of them. Let me tell you why. On July 30, 1997 a Los Angeles court ruled you were the father of Tyrian Jade and you never disputed the verdict. Now many people seem to believe that 10 years later, you seem to have accepted it.

Imran Khan: That’s not true. Look if in a country you have an ex-party judgement in US, anyone can go and have an ex-party judgement.

Karan Thapar: But why not disputed?

Imran Khan: I disputed it. I said look, I am a Pakistani citizen, come here and let me file a petition.

Karan Thapar: But you disputed it from within the boundaries of Pakistan. Why didn’t yu go back to America and disputed in a court of law there?

Imran Khan: I was never planning to do that…

Karan Thapar: But shouldn’t you have done it for your protection?

Imran Khan: No, not at all. I think anyone can do that. The whole thing, by the way, was politically motivated. Then, before the election, it’s again politically motivated.

Karan Thapar: Quite right. But the problem is that you are at the corner of a politically motivated campaign that could actually end your political career forever because the problem is that if the verdict goes against you, not only will you lose your seat now but never be able to contest again. The same disqualification will continue.