Aug. 2: Pakistan’s cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has termed Al Qaeda a product of the CIA and said Pakistan was facing its brunt. Mr Khan said that no Pakistani was involved in the 9/11 incident, instead more than 500 blasts had taken place in Pakistan since the attacks on the US.
Mr Khan, who heads the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), said, “The CIA created Al Qaeda and extremists and now Pakistan is paying the price.” Addressing the party workers in Kasur on Sunday evening, he said the government should stop following “the directives of the US” and work for national interest. “The government should stop the military operation in the tribal areas which is being carried on the behest of the United States,” Mr Khan added.
He criticised the remarks of British Prime Minister David Cameron against Pakistan and said it was not for the first time that such remarks were made. “Our rulers lack self respect to counter such remarks. President Asif Ali Zardari still wants to visit the UK. Nawaz Sharif and other politicians are silent on the issue as they have assets in the UK and other countries,” Mr Khan said.