Imran Khan wants Pakistan to reject all American aid

Sydney, May 12, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan's cricket great turned political firebrand Imran Khan wants Pakistan to distance itself from the United States by rejecting all American aid to the country.

“Pakistan is now more vulnerable than at any time in its 63 years of existence following the US operation in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden, Imran said in interview with Australian Sydney Herald newspaper correspondent Matt Wade in Islamabad.

The biggest lesson to learn [from the operation] is that Pakistan should stand on its own feet, say no to aid and be a sovereign country. Our government policies have been dictated by aid, they have enslaved us by aid,said Imran who will next week lead supporters of Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaf party, in a blockade of NATOs military supply route that goes though Pakistan to Afghanistan in protest at the US drone strikes inside Pakistan.

“These drone attacks are not just a violation of Pakistans sovereignty, they are a violation of all humanitarian laws,he stated. “Imagine the feeling here, that despite all the sacrifices given by the people of this country, we are more vulnerable than ever before and we stand humiliated,he said. People want answers for this, but unfortunately we have the most corrupt and incompetent government.

He has joined politicians demanding the resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. No one believes them in Pakistan, no one believes them abroad,he added. So what are they doing there? They have failed on all fronts.

Imran says the governments reputation for being an American puppet was promoting violent extremism. If the government had roots in its own people and was not perceived as an American puppet then you could control terrorism in Pakistan.� He said discovery of bin Laden in Abbottabad had left the country shamed and weakened. The worst is that we have completely lost our credibility and we are so vulnerable.

As we have been accused of harbouring the worlds biggest terrorist that means any act of terrorism that takes place anywhere, all fingers will be pointing at Pakistan the country stands terribly exposed. We could end up paying an even higher price than we have already paid.