Imran Khan’s Win Perfect Result for Pakistan Army: Shashi Tharoor

Union Minister RK Singh also said that Imran Khan has always been a military candidate from the start.

File photo of Pakistan’s cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

(Photo: AP)

Shashi Tharoor, on Thursday, 26 July, said that the Pakistan army stood to gain if Imran Khan came to power. The comment from the Congress MP came even as counting trends put the cricketer-turned-politician’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in a comfortable lead.

“I think it was completely predictable. For the last year, we have been hearing that the military wants a change; that they want to get rid of Nawaz Sharif and his party and that they see Imran Khan as the most pliable potential alternative,” Tharoor told ANI.

Khan will have to depend on the independents and small parties for support, he said.

He’ll be dependent on support from independents and small parties – almost certainly Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), the coalition of Islamist parties. This group is clearly going to follow military instructions. And if he does things that the military considers as being out of line, support can be pulled.

Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP to ANI

“In those circumstances, they will get an acceptable face as PM even an inspiring one while making sure that he doesn't get out of hand... doesn't get too independent. So this is a perfect result for the Pakistani military,” Tharoor said.

What Others Had to Say

Union Minister RK Singh told PTI that the Pakistan army has been backing Imran Khan from the start. When asked about how Khan’s ascension to the post of Pakistan’s PM would affect India-Pakistan ties, Singh said:

I don’t see any change because as far as India is concerned, the important matters like export of terrorism by them, are not going to change. Military used to decide this policy and they’ll do it now as well.

RK Singh, Union Minister 

Hansraj Ahir, MoS, Home Affairs said that the people of Pakistan had voted against terrorisim by voting against Hafiz Saeed.

It’s clear that Pakistan public didn’t help Hafiz Saeed win the elections. We hope that the government that is formed will make good relations with us. The best thing is that the public voted against terrorism by voting against Hafiz Saeed.

Hansraj Ahir, MoS, Home Affairs

Voting for the 11th Pakistan general elections were conducted on 25 July.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)