ISLAMABAD – January 23 (ONLINE): Prime Minister Imran Khan said Sunday that PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif is not the opposition leader but a ‘national criminal’.
Answering phone calls of general public in ‘Apka wazir-e-azam apky sath’ program, the premier said that inflation was a global issue. He said that those who were seeking an ‘NRO’ from him always create chaos in parliament, so he was answering masses’ queries through phone call.
“In principle, questions should be answered in Parliament, but the opposition members make noise and do not allow me to speak” the premier complained.
He said that ‘Islamic welfare state’ was his party’s manifesto. When his party came to power, the country was on the verge of default. However, poverty has been reduced in during Pakistan Tehreek -e-Insaaf s (PTI) tenure. Farmers income increased by 73%, while the GDP increased by 5.37%, he told public.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that after assuming the charge in 2018, his first objective was to stabilise the country but the coronavirus pandemic hit the world and caused inflation. However, he vowed that the government will overcome this problem like the pandemic.
PM Khan said ‘The Economist’ thrice ranked Pakistan among the top three countries which profoundly handled the pandemic. He said the health card initiative was launched to remove the financial burden from the families, adding that the rural population will also be able to get treatment from private hospitals through the card.
Citing figures of the World Bank (WB), the PM said the poverty has reduced in the country during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
“I want to warn you that If I am forced out of the office, I would be more dangerous,” the PM said to the Opposition. “If I come out on the streets, you would not even find a place to hide.”
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.”
“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 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 or allow them to benefit from the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“If I negotiate with the corrupt Opposition and give them NROs, then I will be deceiving the nation as well as my Allah,” he said.
Prior to taking the calls, the Prime Minister’s Office had provided a landline number for citizens wanting to talk directly to the premier. They may dial 051-9224900.
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