| Captain is ready for all your plans, tells Sharifs | Vows to fight corrupt elements till ‘last breath’ | Confesses there is inflation, assures of bringing it down | Reveals Fazl’s motive behind pushing opposition to topple government
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted on Friday that allowing former premier Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment was the biggest mistake of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Addressing a public gathering in Mandi Bahauddin, the prime minister while referring to Nawaz’s health condition before he was allowed to leave Pakistan said that the government felt that he might not survive for another day. “I admit today that we made the biggest mistake by allowing him [Nawaz] to go abroad,” PM Imran admitted in his speech
Recalling that the PML-N supremo used to ask people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where was the ‘Naya Pakistan,’ the premier said that the people of the province replied him by re-electing PTI with two-third majority in 2018 despite the fact that it had never given a second chance to any party.
Refusing to call JUI-F chief a Maulana and calling him “diesel”, PM Imran said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was trying to topple his government since its inception because it was the first time the National Assembly was being run without “diesel” – a reference to the fact that Fazl is not part of the incumbent assembly.
“It’s being run on solar [power],” he quipped, sayying “diesel” was playing the role of a 12th man – a cricket team’s first substitute fielding player. Giving another reason, PM Imran said, reduction in poverty in the province was the fastest during 2013 and 2018.
Calling the opposition leaders a gang of thieves and a bouquet of dacoits, the premier revealed that it wasn’t him calling them thieves and dacoits but they themselves have been calling each other thieves and looters for the last three decades. “They are all afraid,” he said, adding that Fazl was pushing opposition parties to topple the government because he is sensing that PTI would come in power again in 2023.
Shifting his focus to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif by calling him a “faint-hearted man”, PM Imran said that the latter has lately come to know that the secret of keeping billion of rupees in a peon’s account was not a secret anymore.
Educating the audience on the peon reference, PM Imran said Maqsood Chaprasi was an employee of Ramzan Sugar Mill on a monthly salary of Rs15,000 but FIA unearthed that roughly Rs4 billion were transferred in his bank account. Soon after the discovery by FIA, the PM alleged that Shehbaz helped his son, Salman Shehbaz, to escape to London and Maqsooq Chaprasi to abroad.
PM Imran moved on to other people, including ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar; whom he alleged that ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi helped him escape abroad on people’s tax money in his plane. “If you haven’t committed any wrongdoing then what are you afraid of,” he asked before answering that “yes, they are afraid of Imran Khan” amid public cheering.
Expressing that Imran Khan couldn’t be bought, the PM said that he would not give NRO – a deal – to the opposition like former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf did. “There will be no NRO until you return country’s looted money,” Imran announced, “I won’t leave them until they return the nation’s money.
Emphasising that the courts in the country were independent, Premier Imran while recalling how the courts were influenced and attacked in the past said that the government respects the courts. He added that Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz still claims that she had some “tapes” – audio or video tapes that can be used for manipulation or showing the dark side of key people.
Asking the audience if they have ever heard that politicians keep tapes in their possession and blackmail judges, Imran said that such tactics were deployed by mafias and not by politicians. Urging people to fight along with him against such mafia, he reiterated that he would continue fighting against them till his last breath.
No-confidence motion
On opposition parties’ announcement of bringing a no-confidence motion against him, Imran Khan said that Shehbaz was in a hurry because he knows he won’t be able to prove his innocence in Maqsood Chaprasi’s matter. “If you are innocent then why you seek time from courts,” Imran asked, “why don’t you ask for day-to-day hearing”.
Referring to his case, Imran said that he did not run abroad but proved himself a “Sadiq and Ameen” before the Supreme Court instead of seeking adjournments. “Why are you running away from courts,” Imran asked Shehbaz in his speech. He claimed that Maryam was also afraid of the case and that is why threatening judges with the tapes.
“They want to topple the government through no-confidence motion soon so that they may save themselves just like they did during Musharraf’s tenure,” Imran said. “It’s my message to Sharif family today,” he said, whatever you do, we are ready for that; Kaptan [captain, a reference to himself] is ready for all your plans”. “You will not just be defeated but go to jails,” Imran claimed.
Inflation
While admitting that sending Nawaz Sharif abroad was the biggest mistake, Imran also admitted that inflation exists in the country, saying he keeps thinking about reducing burden from the poor people. Asking journalists to not only tell people about inflation but also tell the nation the reason behind it, Imran blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the rising inflation, saying what the government could do about rising oil prices in the international markets.
Emphasising that the government has reduced taxes and duties on petrol, PM Imran revealed that the government suffers a loss of Rs70 billion every month just to provide relief to masses.
Imran said that inflation was at peak during PML-N and PPP tenures and added that inflation was at the highest level in US and UK in the last 40 years and 30 years, respectively. He added more countries where inflation was at the highest level and asked people to verify the same through a simple search on their mobile phones. He promised to reduce inflation and assured people that they would soon see what the government was doing to provide relief. “Pakistan is on the right track,” he said while referring to record exports, tax collection and remittances.
The highest number of people from Mandi Bahauddin has gone abroad for work, he said, adding the overseas Pakistanis were the biggest asset and that is why they have been given a right to vote. He said that agriculture sector was flourishing and the government is standing with them.
Foreign policy
“For the first time an independent foreign policy is made in Pakistan,” Imran claimed, saying “it means that Pakistan doesn’t take dictation from any foreign country”. Allied countries would attack Pakistan in the past but the then rulers would keep a mum, he said, adding that they never spoke against it because their money and assets were abroad.
“They were their slaves and still are,” Imran said, adding that he wouldn’t have said “absolutely no” on providing bases to a super power if he has assets and businesses abroad.
Health card
Imran Khan said that the government was providing Rs1 million health insurance to masses. He said that the previous rulers would go abroad even after catching cold. He said everyone will have health card by March and it would enable every family to get the best healthcare facilities at both government and private hospitals.
Big thieves vs small thieves
Lambasting journalists who had asked for giving permission to convicted premier Nawaz Sharif to make a speech, Imran asked why shouldn’t the same right be given to thieves locked up for petty crimes. When people shower rose petals on thieves, he said, it sends a message to all hardworking people why were they working from dusk to dawn to earn a livelihood while the thieves were never touched for doing wrong.
Expressing that he has no personal enmity with the opposition leaders, Imran Khan said that he just wanted to see the Pakistan progress and become a great country and that is why he added he was fighting against them.
