DERA GHAZI KHAN: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he was “hurt” by the Supreme Court’s judgment in the suo-motu case of former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling, related to the no-confidence motion against the ex-prime minister.
“I was hurt by the Supreme Court’s judgment,” Khan told a jalsa in Dera Ghazi Khan in connection with the by-election in Punjab on July 17, where he criticised the incumbent government for supporting a US-backed conspiracy against his regime.
In a detailed judgment on the no-confidence ruling, the court noted that no inquiry was ordered into the matter to ascertain the nature or extent of involvement of any person in Pakistan to seek or receive the support of a foreign state to move the no-confidence motion.
“The reservation on the part of the NSC to recommend stronger measures against the [alleged] foreign conspiracy probably reflects the inadequacy of the material to take more assertive action. This perhaps also explains the lacklustre response by the PCS and the members of the treasury in their respective meeting and sitting of 31.03.2022,” he said.
But an adamant Khan claimed that there was evidence as he said that he presented the “cipher” before the then-federal cabinet, adding that he also has the minutes of the meeting.
Khan asked the courts that when a US undersecretary “threatens” a sitting prime minister of a nation of 220 million people, then isn’t it an embarrassment for the entire country.
The former premier was referring to Donald Lu, the assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who he claims was behind the alleged conspiracy that led to his government’s ousted in April.
Although the court has maintained that there was insufficient evidence to back Khan’s claim of the foreign conspiracy, the ex-prime minister’s party has termed the SC’s ruling on the no-confidence as “full of errors”.
In a hard-hitting press conference in Lahore today, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said his party would get the verdict quashed by the next “representative and elected assembly”.
Moreover, the federal government has hinted at filing references against the PTI’s top brass after the Supreme Court judgment.
Khan however vowed to claim “two wickets with one ball” on July 17, the day scheduled for by-elections in 20 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly.
Imran told his supporters to go door to door to prepare for the by-elections and not be “scared off by any tactics” by those in power.
Khan also levelled serious allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), saying: “Why do you spend three days in a week in Lahore with Hamza and Maryam?”
“You represent entire Pakistan but visit them to mentor them on how they can win the July 17 polls,” he added.
Recalling how the recent elections in Sindh were conducted, Imran said: “The nation won’t forgive you.”
On the other hand, he added, “Mr X is in Lahore to support them so is Mr Y in Multan. Who is Mr X? Well, you’ll find out soon.”
The PTI chairman once again asked the Chief Justice of Pakistan to conduct a thorough probe of the Lettergate scandal.
He asserted that the investigation is necessary to save future prime ministers of the country from bowing down to a foreign conspirer.
Mocking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he asked if he was capable enough to withstand such pressures.
The ousted premier also took the incumbent government to task for the skyrocketing fuel prices and advised PM Shehbaz to stand firm to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He went on to add that the country achieved progress in the last two years of his tenure that it didn’t in the past 17 years.
