Imran derides Shehbaz as ‘Mir Jafar’

RAWALPINDI:

Former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday fired a broadside at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling him Mir Jafar and saying that he conspired with the Americans to topple his government.

“Shehbaz Sharif, you are Mir Jafar, you betrayed Sirajud Daula in the same way you conspired with the Americans,” the PTI chairman said while addressing a power show at Zameer Haideri Ground in Jhelum on Tuesday.

Sirajud Daula was the last Nawab of Bengal. He lost the Battle of Plassey on June 23, 1757 due to the betrayal of Mir Jafar, who was the commander of his army. After that, the forces of East India Company took over the administration of Bengal.

Addressing the gathering, Imran said, “I ask … who put us under the burden of debt? For 30 years, two families (PML-N and PPP) ruled the country. They became billionaires and the country came under debt.”

The PTI chief called them thieves, saying that they were the ones who stashed Pakistani money abroad.

Giving an example of the floods in 2010 which caused a loss of billions of rupees and the whole nation made up for the loss, Imran said: “When Pakistanis know that their money will be spent on the country, they will pay taxes through which the debt can be paid off.”

Imran said that Shehbaz’s elder brother Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz “call army bad and Shehbaz polishes their boots”.

“A conspiracy was hatched against me,” he said. “Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq of this place conspired against the prime minister (Imran) of 220 million people.”

The conspiracy was ordered from outside the country by the United States, he said, adding that the opposition parties of that time were told “if Imran Khan is not removed through the no-confidence motion, Pakistan will have a very difficult time … if Imran Khan is removed and Cherry Blossom is brought, all will be forgiven.”

He said after that the conspiracy took place.

“The whole country is insulted as the biggest robbers of the country have been imposed on the 220 million people … in this crisis Allah awakens the nation.

“They take dictation from outside [the country],” he said. “How can they be proud of themselves … They even traded the pride of the nation.”

He said that he had been trying for 26 years to awaken the self-determination of the nation.

“The ideological leader of this nation was Allama Iqbal. Allama Iqbal tried to awaken the slave nation,” he said. “Death is better than slavery.”

He reiterated that after May 20 he would give a call for a march on Islamabad the purpose of which would be to demand elections, saying that an “imported government” was not acceptable. He predicted that 2.5 million people would be in the march.

Imran said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was also in the clutches of the “thieves”.

“Now, it has become a cabinet of all thieves, of which 60% [of the members] are on bail, and one of them has even committed 16 murders.”

He further said that the Sharif family had to answer for its “illicit wealth” while PPP Co-chairman Zardari for corruption.

Taking another jibe at Nawaz, Imran said a convicted person, who was living in London, had called the whole cabinet over there.

PM Shehbaz and his cabinet members have flown to London to meet Nawaz.

“This whole cabinet is going to London. They are going on the money of Pakistanis. They will meet the liar (Nawaz) and take instructions from him.”

He gave a warning to former president Zardari, saying: “I am coming to Sindh … you and your son (Bilawal) get ready. You have sent dollars to Dubai through launches.”

He reminded Zardari what he had said when he was in power. “I said that when I get out of power I will be more dangerous for you.”

He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif during his tenure made 25 trips to London at the government’s expense, while former president Zardari went to Dubai 50 times. “I never spent people's money on myself.”

On provision of wheat and oil from Russia, Imran said that Moscow had approved the supply of the commodities at reduced rate of 30%.

Also read: 'Will never damage Pakistan', says Imran after backlash on 'anti-state' speech

“Shehbaz Sharif will never talk to Russia because he will have to polish shoes first and get permission from those who brought him to power,” he said.

Imran said that India had spread propaganda against Pakistan.

“They had set up 600 fake media houses to spread propaganda against the country. Fake media houses targeted Pakistan Army and Imran Khan.

“The enemies are trying their best to divide the country into three parts. The aim of terrorism in Balochistan is to divide the country.”

He said the enemy knew that there was an army and another was PTI in the country. “India knows that Pakistan cannot break as long as the army and the PTI exist.”

He said that he was glad to see such a massive gathering in Jhelum, adding that only the PTI could pull off such a feat.

“Even if all the thieves hold a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan, they will not be able to fill the place.”

He said that his life and death was in Pakistan. “I played cricket outside for 20 years. Sold my flat and came back to Pakistan … everything is in Pakistan.”

He said, “First Nawaz was exiled by former president General Musharraf. When he came back with an NRO, he started ruining the country and you are saying that Imran Khan is speaking against the army.

“Nawaz Sharif polished (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi's shoes. He sent a message to India that he wants to be friends and the army will not allow him.”

Imran said Modi never told him to be friends. “I said we will never be friends because India oppresses innocent Kashmiris.”

He said, “Our problem has been that the rulers take the money out of the country. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto stood up against the practice … a conspiracy was hatched against him and he was hanged.”

Imran accused Nawaz and Fazl of being involved in the conspiracy to hang Zulfikar.

“The biggest shame in my three-and-a-half years of government came when I had to go abroad and ask for money from friendly countries.

“I was ashamed because I had not asked my father for money till today. I asked Pakistanis for money for Shaukat Khanam and Namal University.

“I had to go out and ask for money for this country. Is it not a shame that the head of a state asks for a loan from another country.

“Even parents respect the child who does not ask for money.”

Imran directed the participants to bring more PTI flags to gatherings.