PM Imran mulls plan to counter PDM protest

Premier says opposition’s movement poses no threat to his government

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said his government faced no threat from the protest movement announced by the opposition parties under the banner of their newly formed alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as he discussed a counterstrategy with his party.

The joint front, comprising almost all opposition parties, has announced that it would hold its first rally on October 11 in Quetta followed by protests in other cities as part of its strategy to send the PTI-led government packing.

“Corrupt people cannot blackmail the government and the opposition parties will not be given an NRO no matter how hard they try,” the premier said while presiding over a meeting of party leaders and spokespersons.

Referring to former premier Nawaz Sharif’s recent scathing criticism of state institutions, PM Imran reiterated that the PML-N supreme leader was pushing India’s agenda through his statements.

“The government and the entire nation stand by their state institutions,” he added.

The participants of the meeting discussed efforts for Sharif’s repatriation from London, where he is staying since late last year for medical treatment.

The PML-N supreme leader was declared a proclaimed offender by an accountability court last month. Recently, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court lambasted Sharif over his failure to appear before the court and “defeating the system” by leaving the country. The convicted former premier was given a rare permission to fly abroad to receive medical treatment for a debilitating health condition in November last year.

During the meeting, PM Imran and PTI leaders also discussed a strategy to deal with the PDM’s protest drive.

The premier directed spokespersons to proactively defend state institutions and adopt a fierce approach while debating with opposition leaders on TV talk shows.

“The nation can see how Nawaz Sharif’s statements are making the enemies of the country happy,” he maintained.

“Why is he [Sharif] speaking against a former ISI chief now? What kind of revolution does he wish to bring about while sitting abroad?”

The premier said that the government would not stop the opposition parties from staging peaceful protests. However, he vowed that they would not be allowed to create unrest in the country.

“Those who break the law would be dealt with sternly,” he warned.

On Thursday, the prime minister in an interview with a private TV channel claimed that Sharif was playing a “dangerous game” by targeting Pakistan’s institutions, particularly the army, at the behest of India.

He alleged that Sharif could resort to any extent to save his ill-gotten money and escape the accountability process.

“Nawaz Sharif is playing a dangerous game against Pakistan and I am 100% sure that India is supporting him,” he added. “He always had a dispute with army chiefs because he was involved in the corrupt practices and wanted to control them.”