Punjab, K-P warned against supporting Imran

ISLAMABAD:

 

As Imran Khan continues to build momentum for the party's upcoming 'Haqeeqi Azadi March', the ruling coalition decided on Wednesday not to allow the PTI chief to storm the federal capital, warning that no-one would be allowed to break law.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the coalition party leaders, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). The meeting discussed the government’s strategy regarding the PTI’s proposed long march, besides the overall political and economic situation of the country.

During the consultative meeting, according to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed two committees -- one of spokespersons and the other of legal experts comprising PDM members and other allies.

On Tuesday, the PTI chairman took oath from party members, ensuring that they pledged to support the march despite all odds. During his day-long visit to Peshawar, Imran met the party’s provincial and National Assembly members at the Chief Minister's House.

“We will consider the party’s movement for real independence as jihad and will render all kinds of sacrifices for the cause … we will uphold the constitution and protect it,” PTI members repeated after the former governor of K-P Shah Farman who read out the oath next to Imran. PTI leaders Parvez Khattak, Ali Amin Gandapur and others were present on stage.

During the coalition government’s meeting, it was decided that the PTI chief would not be allowed to storm the federal capital. The meeting also warned that the governments of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa should refrain from becoming tools of Imran, saying that law would take its course if constitutional limits were crossed.

The prime minister assured the allies that action would be taken on the cipher issue in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The allies announced their support for the government efforts to take the cipher issue to its logical conclusion including action against those responsible.

The meeting expressed deep concern over the leaked audio of the purported conversation between the former prime minister and his close associates. They also condemned the former rulers for playing games with national security and national interests.

The meeting endorsed the federal cabinet’s decision, taken in its meeting September 30, and stressed the need for speeding up the investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

The meeting decided that those who tried to destabilise the country, politically and economically, would be dealt with severely. The participants noted that it was unfortunate that a person was the prime minister, who did not care about the country and the institutions.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the meeting about the economic situation, talks with the financial institutions, especially the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the government’s measures to revive the economy.

Because of the “destructive policies” of the previous government during its almost 4 years tenure, Dar said, no economic indicator was in the positive. He added that those who piled up a historic Rs20 trillion debt in just four years, left the economy on verge of bankruptcy.

Dar said that the value of the rupee had increased significantly against the dollar since last week and that he expected the dollar to come below Rs200. He stressed the need for continuity and strict financial discipline to give Pakistan economic stability.

The meeting strongly condemned attacks on national institutions and made it clear that those trying to cross the red line drawn by the Constitution, would face the wrath of 220 million Pakistani people and the full force of law.

The meeting was attended by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Akhtar Mengal, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Anas Noorani and other leaders of the coalition parties.