— PM responds to no-trust motion with guns blazing
— Says ‘Zardari mafia’ destroyed Sindh
— Announces preparation of yet another relief package for Karachi
KARACHI: Facing arguably the biggest challenge of his political career in the form of the no-trust vote, the prime minister put Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on his radar, saying the former president was his “next target”.
Addressing party workers and supporters at Governor House in Karachi, where had gone to meet the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a member of the ruling coalition, Imran Khan told Zardari that his “time has come”.
The no-confidence motion the opposition parties moved against him would be the “political death” of the joint opposition, he added.
“The gang of dacoit is shaking [in fear], the opposition is now stuck and the kaptaan has made preparations for when they fail. I will go after them […] I will not spare them,” said Khan.
Khan said that he was waiting for the “gang of robbers” as they were claiming after “every two months” that the government would be leaving.
“I was thinking somehow their necks come in my hand,” said the prime minister, adding he wanted the opposition to submit the motion.
He said the Opposition has become “trapped” after submitting the motion, adding he has planned his moves for the future and will not stop once he “wins” the backing of the National Assembly.
He said he was busy for the past three-and-a-half-year in “stabilising the country amid various disruptions”, warning the opposition that it should now brace for his response.
“I was thinking of somehow getting hold of their neck […] the God has finally listened to my prayer and they submitted the moton. Now they have been trapped and their no-confidence move is going to rebound on them.”
He said his counter plan for the opposition was also “ready”.
Prime Minister Khan said that PTI leaders have successfully held the Huqooq-i-Sindh march and the support of the people of Sindh made it clear that they want change now.
Khan said it is time to get rid of elements who have destroyed the province of Sindh.
He said the country is going in the right direction and we have gone through every challenge, including the coronavirus crisis, and provided relief to our people.
He specially mentioned the collection of record taxes in the current financial year and said because of this, we have provided relief through a record reduction in the petrol and diesel prices.
The prime minister also mentioned the country has witnessed a remarkable increase in exports, remittances and in the production of major crops.
He said we have also stood strong during the Afghanistan crisis and will overcome the problems that are bound to come forward due to the Ukraine crisis.
Khan said the federal government is working on a development package for Karachi to resolve its longstanding problems.
He congratulated the people of Karachi for the Green Line bus rapid transit service and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) on which work is underway.
Imran Khan said that the “Zardari mafia” destroyed the country, especially the province of Sindh, while Fazl ur-Rehman has also made billions in dirty money. He vowed to bring back the looted money and bring the electricity prices further down.
He said Pakistan suffered greatly by taking sides and lost more than 80 thousand people, both forces and civilians, in the US-led War on Terror (WoT). The prime minister said it was high time that Pakistan was acknowledged for its role.
The prime minister said the WoT resulted in the internal displacement of 3.5 million people in the tribal belt, regretting that the sacrifices were not acknowledged by the world.
“Therefore, we will be partners in peace […] but will not take sides in a war,” he asserted.
On the other hand, he pointed out Zardari and deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif during the 10 years of their governments at the Centre did not condemn over 400 drone strikes on Pakistan’s soil.
“They did not utter a single word against the drone attacks because they worship those [Western] countries as their ill-gotten wealth is parked there,” he said. “They will never protect our national interest”.
Khan said Islamabad will not take sides in global conflicts again and will do what is in our interest and best for our nation only.
Imran meets MQM, GDA leadership, wins their support
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan held a meeting with the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a member of the ruling coalition, as Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the party extended its “full support” to the premier.
The meeting came a day after opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion seeking the ouster of the prime minister.
In a press talk following the meeting, Qureshi said Khan and the party discussed the political situation in the country.
The two parties, MQM-P and the PTI, “are partners and will continue to support each other,” said Qureshi. During the meeting, the prime minister formulated and finalised his strategy to fight the no-trust vote, he added.
“MQM has assured to lent its full support to Khan. It did not present any demands,” claimed the foreign minister.
“MQM-P did not share its grievances or made any [political] demands, including the opening of its offices […] including its Nine Zero headquarters and Khurshid Memorial Secretariat,” he said.
The offices were sealed following an incendiary speech of party founder Altaf Hussain in 2016.
Khan arrived in Karachi on a day-long visit to hold meetings with the members of the ruling coalition from Sindh.
The prime minister was received by leaders of the PTI and MQM-P on his arrival at the latter’s temporary headquarters in the Bahadurabad neighbourhood. He was accompanied by Qureshi, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, and Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi. Khan also met with Pir Pagara and assured full support to the GDA.
