‘Deal’ with opposition will be tantamount to treason: PM

Vowing that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would not back down from its anti-corruption and accountability narrative, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that doing such a thing would be tantamount to “treason”.

Chairing a meeting of the government spokespersons, the prime minister said that the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was not a political party, rather it functioned like a “mafia”. “They used people like Rana Shamim in every field,” Imran said, referring to the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that the opposition parties were busy spreading rumours regarding a “deal” to create a politically-conducive environment for themselves.

“Making a deal with criminals would be tantamount to committing treason,” the prime minister said. He urged the government spokespersons to “play on the front foot”, while highlighting the government’s narrative against corruption

The prime minister pledged that he would not “retreat an inch” from his current position. He also asked the spokespersons to highlight the good work of the government and how the international institutions were painting a bright picture of Pakistan’s economy.

“Pakistan’s economy is on the right track and the businesses are making record profits...” the prime minster told the spokespersons. “The effects of the economic growth will soon be felt by the common people,” he added.

The prime minister acknowledged the “good work” done by his former Adviser on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar under difficult circumstances. Akbar had resigned from his post earlier in the day. “He [Akbar] wanted to go... his work against the ‘mafia’ is commendable,” Imran said.

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Also on Monday, Imran chaired a high level meeting here on special economic zones (SEZs). Imran instructed that the issues of the SEZs should be resolved on a priority basis and measures for facilitating investors should be implemented in the given timeframe.

The prime minister was informed about the steps taken by the government to facilitate the investors in the SEZs. The meeting was informed that Rashkai, Bolan and Allama Iqbal industrial zones were fully functional and industries were being built there.

Work was also continuing on Dhabeji Special Economic Zone and it would also be made functional. The participants were also informed about the land available for industries in the SEZs and approval and allotment of 1,500 acres of land in 2021 to 130 companies for construction of industries.

Meanwhile, during an interaction with Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Chairman Kashmir Committee Shehryar Afridi and the newly-elected local bodies public representatives from Kohat, Imran discussed issues pertaining to development projects in the district.

The prime minister asked the public representatives to accelerate their public interaction campaign, besides improving coordination with the district administration for the immediate resolution of the public issues.

On the occasion, independent successful candidates of local government elections, Tehsil Lachi chairman Muhammad Ahsan and Kohat city mayor Shafiullah joined the PTI. Imran welcomed independently elected local government representatives in the party-fold.