Excerpts from exclusive Express News interview with Javed Hashmi
“Every step I took, I was alone. If i voiced my opinion, Imran would say ‘trust me, I’m a democratic’. I didn’t say anything when we came to Islamabad. We figured we would form a group and keep him in control,” says Hashmi.
“For him [Sheikh Rasheed], our entire election scheme for Rawalpindi was changed for the 2013 elections. There was a lot of anger in our party. Later he was made an advisor,” says Hashmi.
“Whatever sacrifices will be rendered, will be rendered by PTI; not Sheikh Rasheed. In fact, he’s not even submitted his resignation in Parliament,” Hashmi adds.
“Imran told me that we will go no further. He promised me that he would not take any step that would put the system in danger. When I reminded him of this, he told me that ‘if you don’t want to continue with me, you are free to go,’” the PTI president adds.
He says he felt that there would be a situation where trouble would break out, and Imran would simply stand there and announce that there should be no violence or hooliganism – even if it meant some of PTI’s supporters went and joined in the trouble.
“He told me: trust me, I’m a democrat. This won’t happen,” says Hashmi but questions what Imran is doing now?
“Today this is exactly what happened,” says Hashmi.
Further, Hashmi reveals that Rs100-120 million spent thus far on this entire march and sit in. “Three days ago, I got the feeling that there was a shortage of funds creeping up,” says Hashmi.
“I have praised the ISI in my upcoming book. They have played a role in saving Pakistan but their political wing creates
misunderstandings,” Javed Hashmi adds, “They are our beloved; but I would like them to remain just that.”
“I had advised Imran Khan several times that we must find our own way, and not rely on support from anyone,” says Javed Hashmi. I felt that there was an unseen force making us take certain decisions, says Hashmi.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi works hard for his career, says Hashmi.
“Qureshi was not very close to Imran in the early days, but later on he won his trust and became very close to him,” Hashmi adds.
“I didn’t see any such bad intention in Shah Mehmood. The one complaint I have with him is that he coordinated too much with Dr Qadri. But I don’t think he had any ill designs or intentions,” says Hashmi.
“Six odd people who were very close to Imran Khan talked about all these military matters, such as which corps commander is with us, whether the DG ISI is with us,” says Hashmi.
“Imran trusted them. Jehangir Tareen was among them; Sheikh Rasheed, too was very close. He would whisper in Imran’s ear and then leave. He used to do the same with Nawaz years ago.
They were this sort,” Hashmi adds.
Arif Alvi was not this sort. He is a true political worker, says Hashmi.
Hashmi says he was concerned that a lot of Imran’s inner circle had started talking about military matters.
“I don’t have any evidence nor do I think the army is backing Imran,” says Javed Hashmi.
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Imran Khan is a simple and nave human being, says Javed Hashmi in an exclusive interview with Express News.
“Every step I took, I was alone. If i voiced my opinion, Imran would say ‘trust me, I’m a democratic’. I didn’t say anything when we came to Islamabad. We figured we would form a group and keep him in control,” says Hashmi.
“For him [Sheikh Rasheed], our entire election scheme for Rawalpindi was changed for the 2013 elections. There was a lot of anger in our party. Later he was made an advisor,” says Hashmi.
“Whatever sacrifices will be rendered, will be rendered by PTI; not Sheikh Rasheed. In fact, he’s not even submitted his resignation in Parliament,” Hashmi adds.
“Imran told me that we will go no further. He promised me that he would not take any step that would put the system in danger. When I reminded him of this, he told me that ‘if you don’t want to continue with me, you are free to go,’” the PTI president adds.
He says he felt that there would be a situation where trouble would break out, and Imran would simply stand there and announce that there should be no violence or hooliganism – even if it meant some of PTI’s supporters went and joined in the trouble.
“He told me: trust me, I’m a democrat. This won’t happen,” says Hashmi but questions what Imran is doing now?
“Today this is exactly what happened,” says Hashmi.
Further, Hashmi reveals that Rs100-120 million spent thus far on this entire march and sit in. “Three days ago, I got the feeling that there was a shortage of funds creeping up,” says Hashmi.
“I have praised the ISI in my upcoming book. They have played a role in saving Pakistan but their political wing creates
misunderstandings,” Javed Hashmi adds, “They are our beloved; but I would like them to remain just that.”
“I had advised Imran Khan several times that we must find our own way, and not rely on support from anyone,” says Javed Hashmi. I felt that there was an unseen force making us take certain decisions, says Hashmi.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi works hard for his career, says Hashmi.
“Qureshi was not very close to Imran in the early days, but later on he won his trust and became very close to him,” Hashmi adds.
“I didn’t see any such bad intention in Shah Mehmood. The one complaint I have with him is that he coordinated too much with Dr Qadri. But I don’t think he had any ill designs or intentions,” says Hashmi.
“Six odd people who were very close to Imran Khan talked about all these military matters, such as which corps commander is with us, whether the DG ISI is with us,” says Hashmi.
“Imran trusted them. Jehangir Tareen was among them; Sheikh Rasheed, too was very close. He would whisper in Imran’s ear and then leave. He used to do the same with Nawaz years ago.
They were this sort,” Hashmi adds.
Arif Alvi was not this sort. He is a true political worker, says Hashmi.
Hashmi says he was concerned that a lot of Imran’s inner circle had started talking about military matters.
“I don’t have any evidence nor do I think the army is backing Imran,” says Javed Hashmi.
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Imran Khan is a simple and nave human being, says Javed Hashmi in an exclusive interview with Express News.
