Imran calls for Thackeray's arrest, backs Pakistan's India tour (9 January 1999)

9 January 1999

Imran calls for Thackeray's arrest, backs Pakistan's India tour

By Shahid A.Hashmi

KARACHI, Jan 9 (AFP) - Pakistan's cricket hero-turned politician Imran Khan Saturday lashed out at India's Hindu firebrand leader Bal Thackeray and demanded his arrest for preaching violence and vandalism for the past nine years.

"Bal Thackeray should be put in jail as for the past nine years he has been above law and has slanted every law in the constitution," Imran told AFP.

Imran, once a heartthrob of millions of cricket crazy fans in Pakistan and India, said the Hindu fundamentalist leader "has generated hatred for minorities in India."

His reaction follows digging up of wickets by supporters of Thackeray's Shiv Sena party at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday to oppose the Pakistan team's forthcoming tour.

Thackeray's campaign has led to repeated cancellations of proposed Pakistan tours of India. Recent threats from Hindu militants put the latest tour also in doubt.

"It will be a tragedy if the tour is cancelled," Imran said urging cricket officials in the two countries not to allow a handful of "miscreants" to destroy the game of cricket.

"This man has got away with all hatred towards minorities," he said and added, "I don't know why he has been allowed to do all this by Indian Government."

The former all-rounder said he had played in India on numerous occasions and felt safe.

"I have played cricket there but felt no security problems there and now this man has damaged all that," he lamented.

"Thackeray is a bully and by nature a coward so he has been spreading hatred. He was involved in the carnage of Moslems in India and now burning of churches ... he is making life miserable for minorities in India," Imran said.

He stressed there was no frenzy in Pakistan, adding, "has any group in Pakistan ever done what happened in India?"

"Cricket interest on the whole is declining but with the matches between Pakistan and India it will be renewed," he said.

Imran advised India to make fool-proof security arrangements for Pakistani players.

"It is up to the Indian Government to convince Pakistan to take this tour and once the tour has materialised all the tension will vanish," he added.

Imran praised the hospitality of Indians saying they always welcomed him.

He said the Pakistan-India series will give ideal preparation to both countries for the ensuing 1999 World Cup.

"Pakistan is a bit down after recent losses but it is a world class team and will give India a tough fight," he said.

Source :: AFP