PM Imran Khan says he does not consider Shahbaz Sharif the leader of the Opposition but a criminal
ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that he does not consider Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif the leader of the Opposition but a criminal.
“He cannot answer from he received Rs.16 billion and he cannot explain the telegraphic transfer (TT) scandal but is ready to deliver a 2-hour speech,” he said.
The premier’s remarks came during a live question and answer session Apka Wazir-e-Azam Apke Saath that he held with the citizens of Pakistan via phone calls.
“I want to warn you that if I am forced out of the government, I would be more dangerous for you,” the PM said to the Opposition. “If I come out on the streets, you would not even find a place to hide.”
At the beginning of the session, the premier said that it was his faith that the PTI government will aspire to work on the reasons Pakistan was built: an Islamic Welfare State.
Speaking to a caller regarding the issue of inflation in the country, the premier said: “The biggest challenge we face today is inflation and the rising prices of commodities. I am well aware and cognisant of the issues being faced by the common man due to rising prices.”
The premier then said that inflation is “not an issue occurring solely in Pakistan.”
“I want my countrymen to understand that inflation is a global phenomenon caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “From industrialised countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, to Europe and Japan, the entire world is faced with spiralling costs of living, a sharp increase in food prices, and a huge spike in energy prices.”
“Pandemics such as COVID-19 occur once in 100 years, it has had a global negative effect causing spiralling costs of living, and disrupting lives all across the world.”
Addressing the media of the country, the premier said that while it is the right of the media to criticise the government, it should refrain from resorting to propaganda and fake news.
“Our government is against mafias, and unfortunately, some elements within the media have also sided with them to spread negativity,” he said.
Citing the 5.37% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country, the premier questioned the Opposition, the critics, and the media as to how the country is progressing if there was complete economic turmoil.
He also urged the Pakistani nation to follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in order to progress.
Criticising Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, the premier said: “I don’t consider him the leader of the Opposition but a criminal of the nation.”
The premier said that he is ready to talk to everyone — even if their views differ from his — but he is never going to negotiate with the corrupt. “If I talk with the corrupt and give them NROs, then I will be deceiving the nation as well as my Allah,” he said.
Answering a question about high taxes on imported mobile phones, the premier said that his government is trying to manufacture everything within the country, saying that manufacturing goods within the country is the only solution as importing goods from abroad is very expensive.
“Even the clothes I am wearing are made in Pakistan. I don’t wear anything imported,” the premier said, adding that the government is trying to document the economy so that tax collection could be increased. “If we want to be a progressing nation, we have to pay taxes,” he said. The prime minister said that the PTI government will not only complete this tenure but it will also complete the next term.
Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated his resolve of not giving any NRO to those who have plundered the wealth of the country.
The Prime Minister said opposition cannot blackmail him to get an NRO. He said if I will give an NRO it will be a biggest treachery to Pakistan and he will not allow this. He said he cannot give an NRO to criminals and dacoits. The Prime Minister said some media elements are spreading disappointment and hopelessness through fake news and negative propaganda.
Quoting report of the World Bank, Imran Khan said inflation is reducing in the country, while economy is growing by 5.37 percent, despite Covid-19 pandemic. He said construction sector is booming in the country. He said banks have received applications for housing loans worth 290 billion rupees and around 140 billion rupees have been given to the applicants, which shows public’s trust in government’s policies. He said 45,000 housing units are under construction, while the private sector and building developers are constructing three million houses in their 342 projects. He said 30 industries are directly linked with the construction sector and are getting benefit of this boom.
Talking about the agriculture sector, Imran Khan said the country has witnessed a record production of wheat, sugarcane, rice, and maize, which resulted into income of 73 percent to the farmers’ community. He said that every family in the rural or agriculture sector received an additional income of around 165,000 rupees. Large scale manufacturing witnessed a record increase of 10 percent, while vehicles, tractors, and motorcycles showed record sale due to prudent economic policies of the government.
The Prime Minister said corporate sector earned a profit of 930 billion rupees. He said tax collection recorded over six thousand billion rupees, exports 31 billion dollars, and foreign remittances over 30 billion dollars. He said all the economic indicators show that the economy is performing well and the media should refrain from spreading uncertainty in the society.
Replying to a caller, Imran Khan urged the people to strictly observe wearing of masks at public places to prevent spread of Omicron variant of Covid-19. He, however, made it clear that the government is not thinking of closing the businesses as it will cast a negative impact on our poor people.
Answering a caller, the Prime Minister said inflation is a worldwide phenomenon and Pakistan is not an exception. He said it should be kept in view that our government inherited the biggest current account deficit of 20 billion dollars in Pakistan’s history and we have to focus on stabilizing the economy.
He said as a result of stabilizing efforts, dollar’s value went up, which caused higher prices of imported items. Secondly, Covid-19 pandemic created supply shortage. He said the media should do balance reporting on the issue of inflation.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan started receiving direct phone calls from general public during a programme “Aap Ka Wazir-e-Azam – Aap Kay Saath”.
According to details, the Prime Minister was listening to the complaints and opinions of people and informed them about different initiatives taken by government.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has so far held four public sessions in which he responded to 86 questions asked by the public.