LAHORE
Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Friday warned that those involved in bargaining with the opposition would suffer severe humiliation that they would not be able to save their reputation.
Addressing a press conference, the interior minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would play the trump card against all the ‘bargainers’, adding that he would emerge even tougher after the failure of no-confidence motion.
He also maintained that Imran Khan would complete his five-year tenure as prime minister, adding that the ‘bargainers’ would not be able to bring about any change. “Results are bad when democracy becomes a business,” he added.
The minister said all PTI members and its allies fully supported the decisions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that those who would quit the alliance at this time would stand no where in future. The PTI’s allies would always stand by the government and Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added.
Sh Rashid Ahmed said that the opposition should not underestimate Prime Minister Imran Khan as he was very well aware of the situation that what decisions should be taken during challenges, adding that horse-trading should be discouraged in politics. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s leaders, who were claiming respect for the vote, were now contacting the government allies just to achieve their personal ambitions, he asserted.
The minister said that these elements were making an alliance to create unrest and achieve their personal objectives instead of peoples’ interests, adding that if the opposition’s no-confidence move fails, Prime Minister Imran Khan would be strengthened further. Those who would change their loyalties would not be able to face people in the constituencies in the upcoming elections, he added.
To a question, he said that he had urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold talks with estranged PTI leader Jehangir Tareen, but some members within the party did not approve off his suggestion, adding that the PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party leaders had abused the national institutions to get power but they would definitely fail in their agendas.
To another query, Sh Rashid Ahmad said that any PTI ally, thinking of leaving Prime Minister Imran Khan at this stage would make a political blunder as the nation would never forgive them for changing loyalties. The opposition should prepare for the local bodies elections, being held within next three months, he asserted.
He said that the opposition was afraid of the accountability process due to which it was trying to derail the government by raising slogans to table vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister, adding that no restriction would be imposed on PPP’s long march as Rangers would provide them security if they would conduct the march.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that India could not digest Prime Minister Imran Khan’s successful visit to Russia so it was spitting venom against Pakistan.
