'Either Imran exists, or we do': Sana hints at PTI chief’s 'elimination'

Interior minister says political situation has reached the point where PML-N can go to any extent to save itself

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that country’s political situation has reached the point where the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) can go to any extent to protect its existence from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

“The country’s politics has been brought to the level where the existence of only one of the two [PTI and PML-N] is possible,” the interior minister said in an interview aired on Saturday.

یا عمران خان کا وجود رہے گا یا ہمارا اور ہم اِس کے لیے ہر حد تک جائیں گے چاہے آئینی ہو یا غیر آئینی۔ رانا ثنااللہ

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— Abuzar Furqan (@AbuzarFurqan) March 26, 2023

Sanaullah said that when the ruling party feels that its existence is under threat, it can go to any extent against its chief political rival—without considering “what is illegal or undemocratic”.

When asked if his statements could provoke PML-N supporters into considering the PTI chief as their enemy, Sanaullah said the supporters of Imran Khan already consider them as their enemy.

“The anarchy is being spread already,” the minister remarked while responding to the question.

Calling Imran a fitna [mischief], the interior minister said there can be no peace in the country with the presence of PTI chief in politics.

“Imran Khan has turned politics into enmity. We consider him as a political rival but he sees us as his sworn enemy. There can a major disaster in the country if Imran Khan is not eliminated from politics,” he added.

“He has brought the nation’s politics to a point where only one of us can exist,” Sanaullah said. 

Also read: Sana lampoons Imran for ‘paradoxical narrative'

Earlier in the day, Senior Vice President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz Sharif questioned why former prime minister Imran Khan was not punished by the Supreme Court despite his involvement in abrogating the Constitution.

Speaking to the lawyers' wing of the party in Lahore, she said that while former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was convicted of fake cases like the 'Panama Leaks', Imran Khan has not faced any significant legal consequences despite repeatedly attacking the courts during protests.

"Imran Khan is still being treated like a 'ladla' (favourite) but others are treated unfairly," she added.

Maryam said that Imran's politics revolve around his "facilitators" and that their remnants are still present in the judiciary.

"A man tramples the law of Pakistan but gets bail in five minutes. He has now discovered the 'judicial establishment'." she added.