Pakistan PM Imran Khan decries opposition march on Islamabad
Describing ‘Azadi March’ as a blackmail tactic, Imran says no relief for the corrupt
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday described an opposition protest march — the
Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led “Azadi March” — as a conglomerate of corrupt, incompetent politicians who are seeking a reprieve from the wrath of the law.
While addressing a public meeting, after inaugurating the Baba Guru Nanak University in Nankana Sahib, Imran vowed not to give relief to the corrupt, come what may.
He said they were seeking an arrangement similar to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), a controversial ordinance issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, which granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats accused of corruption.
But in Imran made it clear he was not going to issue any NRO.
The prime minister said the aim of the march was not to highlight the failure of his government but to blackmail a successful regime.
He asked the audience to look at the previous government’s inflation and compare it with the record-low figures of inflation under his tenure.
Imran, who is under pressure from opposition parties to step down and announce fresh elections in the country, dismissed the demand saying his was a political government and he would face the opposition in political way.
“The Azadi March is being staged to blackmail me but those who know me well can tell that Imran Khan can never be blackmailed by such tactics,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister denounce the call by some opposition parties not to open Kartarpura Corridor.
Imran added that no matter how bad the relations were between Pakistan and India, the Sikh community would always flock to Kartarpura Sahib and Pakistan would never stop them.
He cited the example of Saudi Arabia saying that even Riyadh did not bar Muslims from visiting holy sites in the Kingdom, no matter how bad relations were with the countries of origin of the pilgrims heading towards Makkah.
While talking about former premier Nawaz Sharif’s health, Imran said his arch-=rival had lauded the medical services being provided to him.
He said the government had arranged the best doctors from Karachi and specially sent the CEO of Shaukat Khanum hospital to examine the former premier.