Musharraf's not going to let go of power: Imran

ON FRONT FOOT: Imran says he stands for the independence of judiciary.

        

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Now that the elections are over, does Imran Khan regret boycotting the elections? That’s the issue raised by CNN-IBN’s Karan Thapar in Devils Advocate.

Karan Thapar: Now that the elections are over and the political parties have won almost two thirds of seats in the National Assembly. Do you regret your boycott?

Imran Khan: Absolutely not. Let me say that if it ever happened again that the Constitution was suspended, 60 per cent of the judges sacked unconstitutionally and the election held under PCO (Provisional Constitutional Order) which had no legality, I would again boycott the election.

Karan Thapar: I accept the way you characterise the last regime. But had you contested, you would have won and you’d be a minister and your political career would get a boost, which it badly needs.

Imran Khan: I am not in this politics for a political career. Almighty has been kind to me and I have everything I want. I came in for a movement, for justice, and independent justice for 11 years, my party was clamouring all over the place and no one was paying any attention. But for the first time in history a chief justice takes a stand against a dictator and I had to stand with him.

Karan Thapar: Your party took a terrific stand with Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, but the party then wanted the political reward for what it did. Had you contested, the party would have won 15 to 20 seats. You would have been a major gainer in the frontier. You have denied your party an opportunity to become something to reckon with.

Imran Khan: It is true that we were the best prepared and in Frontier we were the second highest vote bank, which is close to18 per cent.

Karan Thapar: And it may never happen again.

Imran Khan: Well that’s for us all to see. In my opinion we only lose, when we lose the credibility. And if the elections were held on January 8, I am telling you, Musharraf would have won the elections.

Karan Thapar: But the point is that it did not happen. The situation that could happen is that you would have 15-20 seats and your party would have established itself. Your party men would be MLAs. Suddenly, you have denied them everything. And had you done it because you have been a little obstinate.

Imran Khan: The only reason this revolution happened, and this is a revolution through the ballot, was because of Benazir assassination. That tragic incident suddenly changed everything. If the elections were held on January 8, there is absolutely no doubt that Nawaz Sharif would have been wiped out and Q-league would have taken over.

Karan Thapar: But Nawaz Sharif, who wanted to boycott, participated and he actually benefited from Benazir assassination. The ANP also benefited. The only party that has not benefited is yours. Have you allowed your obstinacy to come in the way of your party's political interest? You are smiling and you know the answer is yes.

Imran Khan: No it’s not. Remember I stood for the independence of judiciary. My party was the first one, the day the chief justice took a stand, I was the first one who held the press conference and stood by him. So, I could not have abandoned him. If we had participated and if the elections were held on January 8, and the Q-league had won, we would have legitimised the destruction of the judiciary. I could never do that.