Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ruled out any talk with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan until he admitted his wrongdoings and apologized to the nation for all the missteps he had taken during his previous rule.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he termed Imran Khan a “fraud”. He said it was not possible to talk with someone who “looted the country, attacked the judiciary and did not believe in the Constitution and justice”.
He believed that discussion could not be held with a person who refused to sit with his opponents on all the issues, whether it was related to the COVID-19 pandemic or Kashmir issue or others.
The PM said the legislators would have to decide if they wanted to continue with the prevailing ‘the law of the jungle’ in the country or legislate to uphold the rule of law.
“Today, the fight is between democracy and fascism… It is high time that we take a decision with collective wisdom,” he remarked.
He also took exception to the special treatment being given to Imran Khan in the courts despite his persistent blackmailing and abuse of the judiciary.
“We need a categorical decision if we want to give relief to the nation or the ‘favoured one’ who does not abide by the law,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif said Imran Khan did not appear before the courts, making a mockery of law and justice, but he still has been getting bail.
He recalled that the senior leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was sent to prisons for fake cases, but no leniency was extended to them.
The PM said all three pillars of the state, including the executive, legislators and judiciary, would have to play their due role in the development of the country. Otherwise, nothing would be left but regrets only.
The prime minister termed as a ‘ray of hope’ the 4-3 decision of judges in a suo-moto case regarding elections that dismissed the proceedings contending that the chief justice of Pakistan does not have the power to restructure benches without the consent of the respective judges.
PM Sharif felicitated the nation on 50 years of the formulation of the 1973 Constitution and said the polity was a binding force among all federating units of the country.
