Imran Khan and other Pakistan opposition leaders meet in London

(8 Jul 2007)
1. Pan of conference
2. Former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif sitting in conference
3. Various of delegates
4. Observers and journalists attending conference
5. Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan talking to other delegates outside room, zoom in
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman
"The army has been bombing, using helicopter gunships, aircraft against its own population and it never solved any problems, in fact it exacerbated the problems. In Waziristan the Pakistani army eventually suffered a defeat and had to resort to political settlement. In Baluchistan the problem is going on, everyday there is terrorism and sabotage against the Pakistani army costing billions of rupees to this poor country. So the answer to our problems is not using force, it is having a democratic process, allowing free and fair elections, genuine representatives of the people and through dialogue solving the issues."
7. Cutaway of hand
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman
"Pakistani people time and again have demonstrated they are moderates. Even the religious parties, most of them are not extremists, even they have been sidelined by free and fair elections. It's only under military dictatorship that all this extremism rises in our country."
9. Cutaway
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman
"Well, it is very unfortunate that she (Benazir Bhutto) is not here because all of us were hoping - she is the only one missing, the entire opposition is here. And if she does a deal it will be political suicide for her and her party because people in Pakistan are not ready for any deal with (Pakistani President) General (Pervez) Musharraf. And also the perception will be that she is only doing a deal to save herself from her corruption charges, which is even worse for her, and I think she will lose badly in this."
11. Khan talking to other delegates
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Vice Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP):
(Q: Are the rumours connecting Benazir Bhutto with General Musharraf to share power true?)
"Rumours always give you a wrong picture. Everything should be clear and transparent that we are not having any deal, done any deal with this regime, we are demanding fair and free elections and democracy."
13. Delegates talking outside conference room
STORYLINE:
Former Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan spoke on Sunday to AP Television on the sidelines of a conference of Pakistan's opposition parties in London, which was calling for new elections under a caretaker government without President General Pervez Musharraf.
"The answer to our problems is not using force, it is having a democratic process, allowing free and fair elections, genuine representatives of the people and through dialogue solving the issues," Khan, who is the leader of moderate party Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) said.
The conference was held by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, which groups Pakistan's main opposition parties.
On Saturday, Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for the resignation of Musharraf, citing growing instability and a possible assassination attempt on the military ruler.
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who has spoken of a desire to return to Pakistan after almost a decade in exile in London and the United Arab Emirates, was not expected to attend.
Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to avoid arrest after her government collapsed amid allegations of corruption and misrule.

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