Talks b/w govt & Imran will only be possible if ex-PM admits his ‘wrongdoings’ & apologizes to people for all things he has said & done: PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (SABAH): In a fiery address at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said he was of the clear opinion that talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will only be possible if the former premier admits his “wrongdoings” and apologizes to people for all the things he has said and done.
Labelling Imran Khan as a “fraud,” the premier said that it was “not possible to talk” with someone who had “looted the country, attacked the judiciary and did not believe in the Constitution and justice”, until he publicly apologised to people and admitted to having caused damage to the country and the Constitution.
“I believe no discussions can be held with a person who consistently and condescendingly rejects invitations for talks on everything — be it COVID-19, the state of terrorism in the country, the apex committee meeting or the Kashmir conference,” PM Shehbaz Sharif added.
“In a democracy, we have no weapons, merely dialogue,” the PM said, emphasising that it was not possible to give in to Imran Khan; “however, we are short on time.”
PM Shehbaz Sharif termed Imran Niazi as biggest fraud of the history. He said that the blue eyed will not be allowed to play with Pakistan, adding that the law will take its course. He said that the authority of the prime minister vests with the cabinet, adding that as we take every matter to the cabinet every week the same manner other institutions should make decisions while talking them in their cabinet, adding that if we could do this work then why others could not follow the same.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that an audio has recently surfaced in which revelations have been made about a Supreme Court judge, adding that he did not knew the facts but through Speaker National Assembly and with the permission of the house he requests the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial to conduct forensic audit of the audio. He said that chief justice should tell the nation whether this audio is right or wrong, adding that the truth should come in front of the masses and if it is false then the responsible should be punished.
Speaking about the dissenting note issued by two judges of the Supreme Court (SC) who raised questions over the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), the prime minister said the “move was a ray of hope”.
He further added that the “decision” yesterday had been made by four of the seven members of the bench and since the Parliament is empowered to make laws in the country, it, must do what it can to make laws that will facilitate the “decision”.
A day earlier, in a 27-page detailed note — considered to be a ‘judgement’ — for the apex court’s March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail pointed out that it is important “to revisit the power of ‘one-man show’ enjoyed by the office of the CJP [Umar Ata Bandial]”.
“The voices for change stemming from the judiciary itself is certainly a ray of hope for the country,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that if the house did not play its part in making the ‘needed” changes, the nation will not forgive them.
“Today, we must decide whether we want to help the millions of people in this country or we want to facilitate one favourite,” the prime minister said.
Shedding light on the recent fiasco witnessed during the court proceeding of the PTI chief, the premier said that a certain “favourite” does not appear before any court, no matter how many notices have been issued to him.
“He gets an extension in different courts in the dark of the night and makes a mockery of the judiciary,” PM Shehbaz Sharif lamented, criticising Imran Khan for his remarks against a sitting woman judge and the fact that no action has been taken in this case so far.
“Imran Khan made false cases against the opposition when he was in government and signed an agreement with the IMF [International Monetary Fund] and violated it,” the premier said listing down the wrongdoings of the PTI government.
PM Shehbaz Sharif regretted that the PTI chief has been “blackmailing the judiciary through violent tactics”, adding that Imran Khan does not recognise the law and constitution and was not surrendering before the courts.
“Instead of facing the cases against himself, Imran Khan is attacking law enforcement agencies,” he added.
Calling out Imran Khan for pushing the country towards bankruptcy, the premier reiterated that the current coalition government “saved the country”.
“Today, the IMF is taking guarantees from us at every step. We have fulfilled all the conditions of the IMF. Congratulations to the Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar who finalised the terms of the deal with the Fund,” he said.
The premier — while emphasising the need to steer the country out of its current dire straits — urged the House to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to protect the country from constitutional and political crisis.
He told the members of the lower house that the pillars of the state will have to play their role for this purpose.
“Our constitution clearly protects the separation of powers, while at present, some judicial verdicts are openly violating the constitution by supporting PTI in all cases,” he said, adding that certain legislation should be made to strengthen rule of law in the country.
Regarding the ECP decision to delay the polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa till October 8, the premier justified the electoral body’s decision by saying that the decision has been taken keeping in view the resurgence of terrorism in the country.
“No political party can run away from the elections, as polls are the beauty of a democracy,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for collective wisdom and efforts to ensure rule of law and supremacy of constitution in the country. He said a society based on justice is imperative to steer the country out of current dire straits.
He urged the House to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to protect the country from constitutional and political crisis. He said the pillars of the state will have to play their role for this purpose.
He said since we came into power through a legitimate way under no-confidence motion, our Foreign Minister and Finance Minister are struggling to rebuild Pakistan’s good relations with all friendly countries.
Shehbaz Sharif said instead of facing cases against him, Imran Khan is attacking law enforcement agencies when they try to deal him under the law and the constitution.
He said no political party can run away from the elections which are the beauty of a democracy.
He, however, said the recent decision of Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the elections has been taken keeping in view the resurgence of terrorism in the country.
Shehbaz Sharif said smear campaign against the armed forces of Pakistan will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister appealed to the Chief Justice to investigate about the facts of recently released audio of an honorable justice.
Prime Minister urged legislation from the National Assembly to reduce the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), stating that the voices from within the judiciary were a ‘new ray of hope’.
The premier read out the decision of SC judges Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail. He stated that if the NA did not pass the legislation, history would not forgive it.
During his address Shehbaz slammed “the favourite” – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, stating that the nation was confused and divided due to the ongoing political crisis and no one was holding Imran accountable.
The incumbent premier continued that Imran did not appear before any courts and received exemptions, declaring that “enough was enough”. He stated that the law would take its course and Imran would not be allowed to “play” Pakistan.
Shehbaz said the entire political leadership came together in 1973, forgot their differences and made the constitution.
He furthered that last year, the current government was in opposition benches when different political parties decided to table the no-confidence motion as per the constitution. The premier further said that the political parties in the current government have put their politics at stake to save the state, which was a lesson for the entire nation.
PM Shehbaz added that the constitution clearly defined the division of powers between the legislature, judiciary and administration, and set a red line that no one would be able to cross.
He stated that the current ongoings were apparent for everyone to see and a mockery was being made of the constitution. Shehbaz maintained that the powers of the legislature in the constitution and the powers of the judiciary were being flouted.
Specifically highlighting the matter of the PTI chief threatening a judge, Shehbaz said “no one took notice of the matter” despite the facts of the case being evident before the entire nation.
The premier stated that “the favourite” had thrashed the constitution, stormed the Parliament and he and his followers had “hung their dirty laundry on the doors of the Supreme Court”.
He highlighted that during the four-year tenure of Imran, loans increased by 70% but not even a new brick was laid.
“During Imran Khan’s tenure the country was dragged to the brink of default, and the current coalition government saved the country by working day and night,” he said.
He furthered that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was on board with the new program but asked for a step-by-step guarantee due to past breaches of promises under the PTI regime. He added that the finance minister had worked hard in negotiating with IMF.
The prime minister iterated that “enough is enough”, the law would take its course and the government would not allow “the favourite” to play with Pakistan.