Imran’s boast about army backing rankles PPP

Kaira wants army to clarify stance; says armies stand by govt decisions, not one party

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has said government’s irresponsible statements are damaging the country and the Pakistan army should clarify its position on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement.

While addressing a press conference in Lahore, the former federal minister said the Army should stand with the government’s decisions and not with party manifestos following a comment made by PM Imran in his interview with media persons on Monday.

“Finance Minister Asad Umar’s irresponsible statements on the government’s 100-day performance coupled with the foreign minister’s controversial ‘googly’ comment on the Kartapur matter has triggered conflict,” he lamented, adding the federal cabinet must be careful with their choice of words.

Kaira further said there needs to be a limit to the finance minister’s irresponsibility as the government’s claims of showering the country with a ‘$200 billion rain’ proved to be wrong.  The former information minister further asked the prime minister if he knows there are flaws in the National Accountability Bureau’s mechanism then why he is not taking any corrective measures or bringing legislation.

Criticising the PM for stating the army was standing behind PTI’s manifesto, he said that if what he is saying was true then it should be clarified why the army was not standing behind previous governments and their manifestos.

“The PPP has assured time and again it will support legislation for the betterment of the people,” said the PPP leader adding the party also supports accountability but if the premier has any evidences against politicians then why has he not presented them to NAB.



He also assured the PM the opposition parties will support PTI if it brings amendments for reformation of NAB in National Assembly. While referring to the Supreme Court’s notice to PM Imran’s sister Aleema Khan in a foreign assets case, Kaira said the premier now has issues with judiciary too.

“We were the first to introduce the chicken and eggs plan,” he boasted adding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had earlier copied the PPP’s Benazir Income Support Program was copied in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The PPP leader also warned the prime minister of cracks spreading within his own party and he can only play on accusations and blame game for a month or two.

Meanwhile, talking about the formation of South Punjab province, Kaira said the government should advance with the initiative if it had the intent to fulfill its promise and the opposition parties shall support it. “Lack of will is the reason PTI is delaying the process and not the lack of numbers”.

Hinting at possible changes in the federal cabinet in the next 10 days, PM Imran interestingly said that early elections in the country couldn’t be ruled out. The premier also said that he only came to know about the sudden increase in dollar’s value through the news.

Furthermore, the PPP leader also said the warning of early elections wasn’t a threat for opposition parties but the PTI itself as it would either have to walk a straight path or face re-elections.

Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Rana Sana Ullah said the PTI chief will himself step down as prime minister in a matter of six months.



“The PTI is unable to run the government, and keeping in consideration the state of the affairs, Imran Khan would resign himself,” Sanaullah said while talking to media outside the top court.

The senior PML-N leader said the Opposition is allowing the government some time because the country cannot afford elections only after a time-span of three to six months. If need be, he added, the change of government should be in accordance with the Constitution.