Some of our ministers score own goal, laments PM Imran

Premier says joy of PML-N supremo’s fiery speech against army celebrated in India

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif’s speech during the all parties conference was a conspiracy to rupture government-army relations, saying that the army supports “us” because “our government is not corrupt”.

“The current coordination between the government and the army is for the first time in the history. The military leadership supports our decisions because we are not corrupt,” Premier Imran said while talking to TV channels director news on Friday.

“Sharif's speech was a reflection of India's statement and a conspiracy to rupture government-army relations,” PM Imran said, adding that they allowed the speech to be broadcast because of the matter of freedom of expression.

“I am not threatened by the opposition. It is its agenda to create a fight between the government and the army,” Imran said. “If the opposition resigns, by-elections will be held the next day.”

The prime minister said that they (opposition) support Maulana Fazlur Rehman because he has a lot of people with him.

He said that the opposition was upset that the army was following the PTI government’s policy. “Whenever there is a problem, the army stands behind the government. Sharif wants to break this historic harmony between the government and the army.

“Whether the issue is related to Afghanistan or India, whether it is related to the pilots, whether it is related to Kartarpur, the army follows my policy. Whenever there is a problem, the army stands behind the government.”

He further said that Sharif's speech should not have been shown from a moral point of view, adding that if he had stopped the speech, it would have become a matter of freedom of expression. “Can compromise on any issue but will not give NRO.”

On the Gilgit-Baltistan meeting, the prime minister said that it was related to security. “India is trying to spread unrest in G-B.”

He further said, “I know of military leadership meetings. What can I say about those who meet secretly with the military leadership?”

About the political futures of Sharif and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari, the PM said, “I do not see any political future for them. Whether it's ‘N’ or ‘S’, both parties can't run, which is why they go to the GHQ.”

The prime minister said that by-elections would be held if the opposition resigned from the assemblies. “The opposition will not be able to win a single seat in the by-elections.”

He said that former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf had made a mistake in giving NRO, but “I had left him for giving NRO”. “The U-turn is always for a purpose.”

Imran admitted that his government lacked communication with the media, saying: “I have used most street power in Pakistan. I know the most about how to use street power.”

However, he criticised some of his party leaders, saying “there are some ministers in the cabinet who score their own goal”.

PM Imran also said that they were dealing with the sugar mafia.

“We are taking action the way the price of sugar has increased,” Imran said, vowing not to allow the mafia to increase sugar prices in this way in the future.

He said that the prices of life-saving medicines had not gone up for 15 years due to which they had disappeared from the market.

“Now, the prices have been increased so that the supply in the market is better.”

He said that last year the production of wheat decreased which was not even mentioned. In the 18th Amendment, the agricultural sector was given to the provinces which should not have been given.

“Pakistan's future is bright. In two to three years, Pakistan will come out of all difficulties as it is lucky to have China as a friend. The good thing is that China needs Pakistan as much as Pakistan needs China.”

On the film industry, Imran said, "Obscenity is on the rise in the country because of Western films. Sex crimes are on the rise in Pakistan. We need to highlight the anti-pornography culture through our films."