Opposition, govt trade blows over PM’s speech
Abbasi says snap elections only option if PTI fails to overcome the prevailing issues
PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi vows to appear before high-powered commission. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement that he would form a commission to investigate the country’s massive debt pile-up has set off a barrage of criticism by the opposition and an equally scathing response by the government.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took a jibe at PM Imran on Thursday, saying that a commission should be formed to check the premier's "mental health".
"A high-powered commission should be formed to assess the mental health of the prime minister. It has never happened in the country's history that a head of the state addressed the nation at odd hours,"
Abbasi said at a news conference in Islamabad.
Abbasi vowed to appear before the high-powered commission, saying: "It is at the discretion of the government to form any inquiry commission and I will present the facts before it."
The PML-N senior leader went on to say he would consider it an “honour" if the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him.
"Despite the passage of over 10 months, Imran Khan has failed to provide any substantial evidence of corruption committed during the PML-N's tenure," he added.
The former prime minister alleged that the anti-corruption watchdog had only been used to silence dissidents and it was frequently misusing the law of remand against the opposition.
"The PML-N is not responsible for the failures of the incumbent government… if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI] fails to resolve the prevailing issues then calling snap elections would be the only option," he said.
Responding to the criticism, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said only PM Imran could pull the country out of its current crises.
“I pray to the Almighty to give strength to the prime minister to rid the country of thieves and plunderers,” he said at the inauguration ceremony of an aircraft monument.
“Then prime minister has always made decisions keeping in view the long-term interest of the country. The PTI will change the fate of the country in just two years,” he added.
Federal Communications Minister Murad Saeed also came to the premier’s defence. He maintained that there were no questions raised about how the country’s debt had hit the figure of Rs24 trillion in the last 10 years.
“I am grateful to the prime minister that he formed the commission and it is in line with the PTI’s accountability slogan,” he said at a news conference.
Saeed claimed that the former federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal had caused a loss of Rs50 billion to the national exchequer and he would forward this case to the commission.
Separately, Special Assistant to the PM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan hit back at PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz for criticising the premier in her speech on Wednesday.
“Her [Maryam] speech reflected her arrogance. The Sharif family has learnt nothing despite paying for their deeds,” she said at a news conference accompanied by Federal Minister Sahibzada Sultan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement that he would form a commission to investigate the country’s massive debt pile-up has set off a barrage of criticism by the opposition and an equally scathing response by the government.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took a jibe at PM Imran on Thursday, saying that a commission should be formed to check the premier's "mental health".
"A high-powered commission should be formed to assess the mental health of the prime minister. It has never happened in the country's history that a head of the state addressed the nation at odd hours,"
Abbasi said at a news conference in Islamabad.
Abbasi vowed to appear before the high-powered commission, saying: "It is at the discretion of the government to form any inquiry commission and I will present the facts before it."
The PML-N senior leader went on to say he would consider it an “honour" if the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him.
"Despite the passage of over 10 months, Imran Khan has failed to provide any substantial evidence of corruption committed during the PML-N's tenure," he added.
The former prime minister alleged that the anti-corruption watchdog had only been used to silence dissidents and it was frequently misusing the law of remand against the opposition.
"The PML-N is not responsible for the failures of the incumbent government… if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI] fails to resolve the prevailing issues then calling snap elections would be the only option," he said.
Responding to the criticism, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said only PM Imran could pull the country out of its current crises.
“I pray to the Almighty to give strength to the prime minister to rid the country of thieves and plunderers,” he said at the inauguration ceremony of an aircraft monument.
“Then prime minister has always made decisions keeping in view the long-term interest of the country. The PTI will change the fate of the country in just two years,” he added.
Federal Communications Minister Murad Saeed also came to the premier’s defence. He maintained that there were no questions raised about how the country’s debt had hit the figure of Rs24 trillion in the last 10 years.
“I am grateful to the prime minister that he formed the commission and it is in line with the PTI’s accountability slogan,” he said at a news conference.
Saeed claimed that the former federal planning minister Ahsan Iqbal had caused a loss of Rs50 billion to the national exchequer and he would forward this case to the commission.
Separately, Special Assistant to the PM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan hit back at PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz for criticising the premier in her speech on Wednesday.
“Her [Maryam] speech reflected her arrogance. The Sharif family has learnt nothing despite paying for their deeds,” she said at a news conference accompanied by Federal Minister Sahibzada Sultan.