Page 52 - JAN2020E2
P. 52

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-


                                                        52
   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57