Imran says govt won’t play blame game

PM lashes out at opposition parties for not letting him speak in NA session

KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated on Wednesday that his government would not succumb to opposition’s pressure or play the blame game and continue its action against corruption in the country.

Addressing a news conference at the Sindh Governor House, the prime minister said: “They want to listen to three words from my mouth: National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). But I’d rather have these corrupt leaders behind bars than ink any agreement with them.”

The prime minister, who was flanked by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi and Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, referred to the Chinses government, which, according to him, has jailed around 400 ministers and put thousands of corrupt bureaucrats behind bars.

“Nothing will change without strict action against corrupt leaders,” he said, adding that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif have looted and plundered public wealth.

He said Zardari and Nawaz were responsible for the poor state of Pakistan’s economy. “During their tenure, Pakistan’s debt increased from $6 billion to $30 billion. After looting public money, they laundered the money abroad using illegal means of hawala and hundi,” he said.

The premier also highlighted the ‘excessive frequency with which the two leaders made trips abroad’. “Asif Zardari has visited the United Arab Emirates more than 40 times, while Nawaz has gone to London a dozen times. It’s because they have palatial residences and business interests there. We have raised the issue of corruption because we have to live and die here.”

Imran said, “Pakistan is getting $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to smooth out its economic activities. In contrast, these two leaders have funneled out around $12 billion dollars from the country through money laundering.

“There is no other option except for vigorous punishment. We have to set a precedent so that no one can dare to loot public money in future,” the premier asserted.

Talking about the opposition’s protest, Imran Khan went on to say that a group of corrupt politicians had banded to save their skin.

“They are afraid of the accountability drive, which is why there has been a lot of hue and cry. They are traitors and I can’t forgive them. It will be betrayal with nation if any one give NRO to them,” he remarked.

He also ruled out that the government was using the accountability drive against opposition leaders. “There are no any fresh cases. We have not made any cases against them. They have been filing cases against each other since 1990s,” he opined.

According to PM Imran, action against corrupt leaders and bureaucrats would infuse the nation with the belief that no one is above the law.

He also lashed out at opposition parties for not letting him speak in the National Assembly session by creating a “fuss” during the proceeding.

Criticising the PPP and PML-N leadership over their so called demand to save democracy in the country, he said, “They are united on one platform because the one thing common among them is corruption.”

He said countries like Switzerland and New Zealand were considered develop despite the paucity of natural resources because there was no corruption over there. He added that Imran foreign countries wouldn’t trust Pakistan if its rulers were corrupt. “Now, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China have lent us money because they know that the incumbent prime minister and government is not corrupt.”

Governor rule

Responding to a question, the prime minister ruled out the possibility of governor rule in Sindh, saying that the provincial government would complete its five-year tenure.

When asked about Zardari’s recent statement in which he predicted that the PTI-led government would be sent packing before the end of the year, the prime minister laughed it off. “We will finish our government and I assure you that we will get rid of corruption from this country and attract investment to put in on the path of prosperity.”

In conclusion, he said that as part of his government’s austerity drive, the cabinet had decided to reduce all unnecessary expenses. “During our upcoming visit to the US, we would prefer to stay in the Pakistan embassy rather than any five-star hotel at the expense of public money.”