Imran Khan backs Taliban, says its Jihad is just and Islamic

Imran Khan addresses his supporters during a peace march in Tank, Pakistan on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012

At Drishtikone, we have asserted that Imran Khan is even more of a Jihadi than the other parties in Pakistan.  Those who think that he is God’s gift to Pakistan and that his becoming the next head of state for Pakistan may solve any problems, are living in lala-land.  Pakistan is fast and furiously headed to Talibanization of the worst kind.  Notwithstanding the solidarity with Malala, there are enough who suggest that Malala is a proxy for the Western powers and a prop erected by them to push Pakistan down.  Controversies are staple of Pakistanis, but Malala’s case also being mired in controversy surely shows that Pakistan is now beyond redemption.

What caught my eye was Imran Khan’s statement on Taliban.  It is well known that he is backed by the Jehadis and the Taliban.  So, he is going to stand by them in this “hour of their isolation”.

Speaking after visiting a hospital in Peshawar where Malala Yousafzai – the 14-year-old activist shot in the head by the Taliban for supporting girls’ education – was treated last week, Khan told reporters that insurgents in Afghanistan were fighting a “jihad”. Citing a verse from the Qur’an, he said: “It is very clear that whoever is fighting for their freedom is fighting a jihad …
“The people who are fighting in Afghanistan against the foreign occupation are fighting a jihad,” he added, according to a video of remarks to journalists.

Interesting, huh?!  The man refuses to condemn Taliban’s shooting of Malala.  Not just that, he reinforces their Jihad as just and Islamic.

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