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REHAM KHAN I 46 YEARS ployment, his answer is Kashmir. When
BRITISH-PAKISTANI JOURNALIST we ask him where did you build five mil-
lion houses? He says look at what Modi
‘Imran Khan fails to a pretext to ward off any discussion on
did. We understand that India gave him
his government’s performance. He talks
meet expectations of not see if he has talked about Citizenship
about Kashmir wherever he goes. I do
Bill. And I am also very surprised wheth-
er he also understands the Citizenship
Pakistanis’ Bill. The Bill came just four days ago. And
I’m glad they are picking it up.
They are not only raising the
Citizenship Bill but there is a
REHAM KHAN, former wife of Pakistan’s ness and despair, a condition of restless- discussion in the world about
prime minister Imran Khan, talks on ness is being created among the people. the way minorities are being
wide-raging issues from politics to People are jobless and economy is in tortured in Pakistan. At the time of
personal relations — during an interview shambles. Situation has not stabilized. independence, there were 22 per cent
with dr anil singh. She not only highlights I feel that a violent current is running minorities in Pakistan which are now
the other side of Imran Khan’s personality through the society. This is very disturb- reduced to 1.2 per cent only. Don’t
but also sheds light on the current nature ing for Pakistan. you think that Imran Khan should
of relations between India and Pakistan look inward and that he should think
and how these relations ought to be in Relations between the two countries about himself before debating the
near future from her perspective. are constantly deteriorating. The Citizenship Bill?
way Imran Khan started interfering
EDITED EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW • in the internal affairs of India such as
abrogation of Article of 370 regarding
You have observed Pakistan and J&K, which is an internal affair of
its Prime Minister Imran Khan from India, he embarked on a mission
close quarters. On every ocassion, denouncing India worldwide. Apart
you have always come forth with from this, the manner in which ruckus
precise comments on the country and over Citizenship Amendment Bill was
Imran Khan. What kind of image you engendered; where do you think he is
had in your mind about Pakistan and taking Pakistan?
under what conditions you find it at As far as Imran’s talking about Article
present? 370 is concerned, we in Pakistan be-
As far as Pakistan is concerned and the lieve that he did not speak on Kashmir.
conditions through which it passing cur- Complete planning about Kashmir is
rently, I had anticipated long ago that it usually worked out during the election
was moving in that direction. At present, campaign in Pakistan. In the country, Im-
Pakistan is passing through a crucial ran is held guilty and accused of the fact
phase. The people had nurtured high ex- that he did not raise the issue of Kashmir
pectation from Imran Khan. Neverthe- properly, even though he had one year.
less, he has not met their expectations as Abrogation of Article 370 happened
you can see that youth in the country is in August 2019. But from August 2018 to
very angry. Anarchy is prevailing. Peo- 2019, he did nothing. Now if he is talking
ple are baying for each other’s blood. about Article 370, he is doing so because
Reasons for this country’s deteriorating he has got an issue in hand. His perfor-
economy. No ray of hope is visible for the mance is almost negligible. I understand
people. One year has passed and dur- that India and the Modi government
ing this period, the government has not have given him a gift. When we ques-
undertaken any positive measure. As tion him about the US dollar going up
a result, people have lost all hopes and (vis-à-vis Pakistani currency), his reply is
become desperate. Due to this hopeless- Kashmir. When we question him on em-
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