Sheikh Rashid stands firm on September 30 deadline, predicts end of coalition govt

Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has reiterated his stance on the September 30 deadline, stating that the nation will soon know whether a "charter of democracy" is being formed or whether it's "the death of democracy."

Last month, Sheikh Rashid had predicted that a technocrat government will take control of the country by September 30. The former interior minister had claimed that the ‘interview process’ for installing the technocrat setup had already begun.

Speaking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Thursday, where he appeared in connection with the May 9 cases, Rashid criticised the current state of governance. "Democracy has been stripped bare on Constitution Avenue. Even drug dealers aren’t arrested the way MNAs were picked up from parliament. If the speaker has any conscience left, he should resign. Even if there's just one member, move a no-confidence motion against him, even if it fails," Rasheed said.

He condemned the defamation of state institutions and lamented the rising cost of electricity. "Another Rs50 billion burden has been placed on the people. They are squeezing the already dead even further. Those they favour aren’t given remand, while others are handed over to police on physical remand. Sixteen months have passed, and no charge sheet has been presented. Their plan is to drag this out for 20 years."

Rashid painted a grim picture of the country’s economic situation, saying, "The nation has been destroyed, and the poor are dying. The IMF hasn’t even listed Pakistan on its next agenda. Education is in shambles—where once 3,000 girls studied, now only 300 do. I demand that daily wage labourers be released from these cases."

He further criticised the government for its mismanagement during emergencies, citing the deaths of two people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad due to the failure of emergency services on the September 8. "Placing containers on Murree Road is a great injustice. Even where no protests occurred, containers were set up. These rulers are incompetent and worthless. The people understand everything but are helpless in the face of these circumstances."

When asked about K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the possibility of removing Imran Khan from Adiala Jail, Rasheed refused to comment.

Reflecting on his recent experiences, the former minister said, "I endured 40 days of hardship; it would have been better to serve four years in prison. Those who were lifelong friends didn’t spare me either. I won’t speak against those who made me endure this ordeal."