By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday compared himself with former military ruler General Pervaiz Musharraf before announcing that he would not give NRO – a deal – in his lifetime to the opposition’s leadership as the ex-military ruler had once done.
The premier, while recalling why he was named among the top-five captains in cricketing history, said he was closely monitoring opposition parties’ every move and was ready for whatever plans they have to oust him from power – currently being threatened by a no-confidence motion.
Regretting that non-implementation of the rule of law was the biggest issue of Pakistan, the premier said that the government was waging “the biggest Jihad” because the powerful were not ready to come under the ambit of the law, were seeking an NRO – a deal leading to clean slate – and continue to blackmail on grounds that if the slate was not wiped clean, then they would topple the government.
“This is the tragedy in Pakistan,” PM Imran said, admitting that even the most powerful military ruler such as Gen Musharraf had to bend his knees and give an NRO.
“The man standing in front of you is not going to give you an NRO, but, would also like to make it absolutely clear that he would not give an NRO till he is alive,” the prime minister said while addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi’s Fatima Jinnah University to celebrate International Women’s Day.
“He [PM] will wage Jihad against them because that will lead to the betterment of the country,” The premier added, saying the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had said that a society can’t survive unless the most powerful were brought under the law.
“Look at the poor countries around the world and you will find that there is no rule of law,” PM said, saying the problem in poor countries was not that they lack resources but the fact that the powerful were always protected while the poor handed down the severest of the punishments.
“A powerful thief goes for big and can buy huge mansions in London,” PM said in a veiled reference to Sharif family’s Avenfield apartments in London. He added that a poor thief could steal an animal or a motorcycle at most, commenting “how much damage can he cause”.
He reiterated that poor countries have abundant resources but the fault in their stars was that the powerful go scot-free.
The premier also said the acceptance of the corrupt in the society leads to the downfall of the country. “You can run but you can’t hide,” he shared a common saying in the US for such corrupt people. Giving a reason for China’s success, Imran said they put 450 ministers in jail over corruption charges.
“The fight for the rights of the downtrodden will continue,” PM Imran said, “rights should always be given across the board.” While explaining, he said, it can’t happen that only a woman in a poor family was given rights but the husband or the children or other family members were deprived of their rights.
Referring to his party name – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – Imran said that he has been doing Jihad for 25 years and believes that God will help him again in what he has been doing now. Specifically addressing Minister for Interior Shiekh Rashid Ahmed at the ceremony, the prime minister recalled that he was named among the top five captains in the history of cricket, saying there was a reason for that: the captain has an eye on every step of the opponent and stays ready for other side’s every move.
Calling the opposition parties’ leadership “a gang of thieves” and a “bouquet of dacoits”, Imran smilingly said: “I am ready for everything that they are planning to do.”
In his speech, Imran reminded the audience that Riyasat-e-Madina was formed on two principles: rule of law and to differentiate between good and bad as well as strive for spreading the good. He said no other country came into existence in the name of Islam other than Pakistan, and the youth must remember that Pakistan should be run on the principles of the State of Madina.
Expressing that he always wanted to empower women, Imran credited his mother for making him do homework when all he wanted to do was to focus on sports. Revealing that his mother was educated and had inherited property, Imran said that “my mother has a big hand in my success”.
He regretted that families, where mothers were uneducated, were at a disadvantage, adding the government gives more stipends to parents for enrolling their children, especially, girls, because an educated woman uplifts the whole family.
“The country can’t progress until we educate our girls,” PM said, adding that governments’ 60 per cent scholarships were for girls and 40 per cent for boys
