Imran mocks ‘turncoat’ opposition leader

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday warned that the country’s democratic system would unravel if the PML-N-led coalition government was allowed to hold onto power any longer.

Addressing a ceremony at K-P House in Islamabad, the former premier – who was muscled out of power in a parliamentary revolt earlier this year – said that democracy could not survive because a “turncoat” like Raja Riaz, a PTI dissident, has been appointed as opposition leader in the National Assembly.

“If they stay in power, democracy cannot survive because a ‘turncoat’ Raja Riaz has been appointed Leader of Opposition [in the National Assembly].”

He said the incumbent rulers were “destroying” all institutions of the county to rig the next elections and close down all corruption cases against them.

While casting doubts on the death of investigating officer Dr Rizwan, the PTI chief said the PML-N government was destroying FIA records pertaining to the corruption cases.

“They are destroying the justice system… they will inflict immense damage to the country which even our enemy has failed to achieve.”

He also accused the government of muzzling freedom of media, saying TV channels were being pressured not to give coverage to him.

The former premier said the United States “installed” the incumbent rulers into power because they can be controlled easily as their assets were stashed abroad.

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Speaking about inflation, Imran compared the performance of the incumbent regime with his government, saying the prices of all essential commodities have skyrocketed in only two months.

He said his government provided subsidies worth Rs200 billion on fuel and electricity prices despite IMF pressure because they did not want to burden the masses with more inflation.

“They don’t care about the people of Pakistan… they only take orders from America… a group of thieves has been imposed upon us by the US and their local abettors,” he remarked.

Moreover, he said his government was the first in the country’s history which provided health cards to the people of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to enable them to avail free treatment at any private or public hospital.

“Entire opposition pressured me to impose a blanket lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic but I refused to do so considering its impact on daily wagers.”

Imran said that Pakistan was among the five nations in the world which successfully saved the poor and economy from the pandemic.

Likewise, my government was the first in the country’s history which opened shelter homes for labourers, he added.