‘Will not grant NRO to union of crooks’, PM hits out at PDM

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated his stance that come what may he will not grant NRO-like deal to opposition parties, saying that “it will be tantamount to committing treason against the country”.

In an interview with a local news channel, the premier said the opposition parties’ alliance, Pakistan Democrat Movement (PDM), are staging protest against his government to secure relief in corruption cases.

Calling the 11-party alliance “union of crooks”, the he said: “They [opposition] have misunderstanding that they could exert pressure on me by holding rallies.”

He asserted that “I am saying this again even If I were to leave the premiership I would but will not compromise on corruption cases.”

Commenting on the PDM’s upcoming Lahore rally, PM Imran said his government will not grant permission to the opposition parties to stage rally citing rising coronavirus related deaths and positive cases. “We will register cases against those who provide sound system and other logistics to them.”

The PDM has reiterated its resolve to hold its December 13 rally in Lahore according to its schedule, warning that it will resist any attempts by the incumbent government to stop or sabotage the power show.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab chapter president Rana Sanaullah said the PDM will hold the "rally as per schedule at the Greater Iqbal Park come what may".

However, the premier also pledged that the government will not stop the rally through forceful means. “We will not create hurdles so that they don’t become 'revolutionary'.”

The prime minister said he is ready to talk to the rival parties on matters pertaining to the country’s issues like economy, Covid crisis and others. “But whenever I come in parliament they [opposition] don’t let me speak and raises hue and cry to secure relief in corruption cases.”

He also quoted an example of the British Parliament, saying that lawmakers in UK always discuss and hold debates on public issues. “But here [in Pakistan] why parliament is not functioning smoothly because opposition lawmakers only demand NRO.”

Premier Imran maintained that only laws and legislation alone cannot eradicate corruption from the society, saying that all stakeholders including media need to play their role for this purpose.

He lamented that recently some journalists filed an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking lifting ban from speeches of “absconding” former PM Nawaz Sharif.

‘Rising sex crimes’

PM Imran while expressing concerns over rising sex crimes in the country said his government is making all-out efforts to curb them while urging the people to also play their role in dealing with such offences.

For this purpose, the premier said his government recently promulgated the ordinance to give an exemplary punishment to sex offenders.

Last month, the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases last month approved two ordinances to introduce harsher punishments for sex offenders including chemical castration and setting up special courts for rape cases.

According to a statement issued by the law ministry, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 introduce the concept of chemical castration mainly as a “form of rehabilitation”.

During the interview the premier also blamed smart phone for contributing to sex offences, maintaining that it provide access to children and teenager to flood of information including obscene and vulgar content.

He said the government cannot ban all the western and other content which is against the local customs and values but it can provide alternate. “For this reason, I spoke to [Turkish] President Erdogan to [broadcast] Ertugrul series in the country to prove that play could be based on Islamic values.”