ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he respected the country’s top military leadership’s decision of not becoming part of political affairs saying that his government has “excellent ties with army”.
“Military told me that they wanted to remain neutral and don’t want to be a part of political matters,” the premier remarked.
“I don’t have any differences with military… they decided that they will not get involved in political matters and we respect their decision and stand by them,” he maintained.
PM Imran said the military believed that it should not become controversial by getting involved in the country’s political affairs.
Prime Minister Imran also urged the country’s youth to take to streets to hold ‘peaceful demonstrations’ against “foreign conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government.
“Raise your voice and stage protests against this conspiracy not for me but for the future of the country,” he remarked while addressing the youth on Saturday.
“Don’t resort to violence and I urge you to hold peaceful demonstrations and don’t cause any harm to the country,” he asked his young supporters while interacting with them via telephone.
Meanwhile, PM Imran and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) lawmakers have decided to attend the proceedings of the no-confidence vote scheduled to be held in tomorrow’s National Assembly session.
It has been reported that PTI members will be present during the session and have their vote counted against the no-trust move in the lower house.
Earlier, PM Imran had formally barred the party’s lawmakers from attending the National Assembly session on the day of voting on the opposition’s no-confidence motion.
The PTI administration had announced that those who want to connect with the premier with queries can dial 051-9210809 earlier in the day.
“Pakistan Army is a professional institution and please don’t criticise the military… after army, PTI has united the nation,” the premier said while responding to a live caller during today’s telethon.
PM Imran claimed that propaganda is being spread to create rifts between military and the public and added that the military has rendered innumerable sacrifices for the country.
He also lashed out at Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif over his reported remarks that “beggars cannot be choosers”.
“They are slaves who worship money… Shehbaz Sharif is facing corruption charges involving billions of rupees… they can never take independent decisions,” he said, adding that all opposition leaders have joined hands against him to protect their “ill-gotten wealth”.
PM Imran also said that cases will be registered against those who are committing treason against the country by becoming part of the “foreign conspiracy” against his government.
“We are consulting with our lawyers on this matter and by tonight we will make a final decision,” he added.
Premier Imran said the public was aware of the “foreign plot” and expressed hope that the masses will never allow this “conspiracy” to succeed. “I will defeat them all [opposition] in assembly tomorrow,” he said while referring to vote on no-confidence motion, which is scheduled to be held in National Assembly on Sunday.
“Don’t worry we will win tomorrow and the nation will not let them [opposition] to return [to power],” he assured one of the live callers.
“I will give you good news tomorrow… those who have joined opposition are now wary of committing treason,” said the premier, maintaining that he will foil opposition’s attempt to oust him through no-trust vote. “I have been receiving messages since last night.”
“Those who criticise military like Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam attacked army chief and ISI head… are actually inflicting harm on our country,” he said.
“Fortunately we have a strong military which guarantees our country’s defence and we should refrain from doing anything detrimental to our military,” he reiterated.
Speaking about the country’s foreign policy, the premier said he was not “anti-America or anti-India” and wanted cordial ties with all states.
“I will never become part of any policy which is against the public interest come what may… I want cordial ties with all countries but my foreign policy will be people-centric,” he added.
