Pakistan: You will see a new ‘Imran Khan’ now, Prime Minister warns opposition

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif of serious repercussions of his ‘attempts to malign the judiciary and the armed forces of Pakistan.’

While addressing a convention of the Insaf Tigers Force, Khan hit back at the leaders of the 11-party anti-government alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) who addressed the alliance’s first show of power in Gujranwala on October 16. However, the main target of his tirade was none else than his arch rival Sharif and his party PML-N.

Sharif who had addressed the rally via video link has leveled serious charges against Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and DG of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for conspiring against his government, orchestrating the general elections of 2018, manipulating the results and lodging Khan as Prime Minister.

Pakistan’s electronic media watchdog Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) though banned airing of Nawaz Sharif’s speech on the plea he was an absconder and a convict yet the speech was watched and shared thousands of times on social media.

Khan vowed from now on, an entirely different, a ‘naya’ (new) Imran Khan would be confronting the opposition parties. There would be zero tolerance for ‘thieves’ and ‘dacoits’ who laundered public money out of the country and tried to discredit institutions of the country, said he.

He declared that he would get “tougher” with the opposition leaders who were ‘playing in the hands of Pakistan’s enemies.’ “After Naya Pakistan, now you will see a new Imran Khan, Insha Allah, now I will show you how to fight,” said the PM.

Govt to bring Sharif back at all costs

Khan vowed to use all channels and to make all-out efforts to bring Sharif back to Pakistan and send him behind bars.

“Come back and see where I put you,” said he while making a gesture of revenge (touching his chin). This time we shall not put you in VIP jails but in ordinary jails where ordinary criminals are kept, he said.

Khan - without naming PML-N vice-president and Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari - said two children had also addressed the PDM public meeting and he would not talk about it.

She has become a grandmother but she is like a child to me, said Khan adding these children have not done a single halal work for an hour in their entire lives. They have reached here while enjoying and spending the illicit income of their fathers,” he maintained and said commenting on these two was just a waste of time. He also declared the PDM leaders as the ‘12th player’ in the team.