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Anti-Imran purge gathers steam in Pakistan

The TTP had been running riot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bolstered by the presence of a large number of senior functionaries who were released from prison after the Taliban swept into power in Kabul on August 15 last year…reports Asian Lite News

In Pakistan, a frontline state on the gates of Central and West Asia, the stage is set for a massive purge that targets former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Over the years the former premier had developed powerful nodes of influence in the military, radical Islamist organisations, the media and within civilian state institutions as well as an influential section of the civil society.

Over the past few days, a focused effort seems to have been launched by a hybrid-combination of the top military brass, personally led by the Army Chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the new government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to weed out pro-Imran loyalists from the system.

On Monday, the first clear sign of the purge came when Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, known to be close to Khan, was removed as commander of the Peshawar based XI corps and shifted to Bahawalpur. This was Gen. Hameed’s second major transfer. He was earlier removed as the chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-a position that Khan wanted him to occupy. Gen. Hamid was moved to Peshawar. But he was still tasked with a major responsibility-of conducting a dialogue, through tribal intermediaries and the Afghan Taliban, with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistan Taliban.

The TTP had been running riot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bolstered by the presence of a large number of senior functionaries who were released from prison after the Taliban swept into power in Kabul on August 15 last year.

Hameed’s transfer coincided with a massive IED blast that killed TTP’s top four leaders on Sunday, including top gun Maulvi Omar Khalid Khorasani. Seemingly, all bridges for the continuation of a dialogue have been burnt with the strike, and Gen. Hameed’s role in peace talks has been, in all likelihood, terminated.

Known for his hatred towards Christians, Khorasani was on the drone list of the Americans, who had already offered a $3 million dead or alive reward on his head.

After Hameed’s transfer the anti-Imran purge had been further energised. On Tuesday, Khan’s trusted Lieutenant Shahbaz Gill was arrested and charged with sedition. If the charges are proven, he could face the death penalty-a prospect that is bound to sow fear among Khan’s senior supporters belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party that the former premier heads.

The knives are out for Gill because he virtually called for a revolt within the army establishment during a discussion programme on the pro-Imran ARY television channel.

It can now be expected that the trail of Gill’s investigation will tighten the noose around Khan, making him the mastermind of the “seditious” remarks. “The comments were according to the script prepared under the supervision of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan which was carried forward by former information minister Fawad Chaudhry and Gill,” the interior minister Rana Sanaullah said, during a press conference.

The ongoing purge is likely to have at least three major consequences. First, the marginalisation of Khan and the PTI is likely to generate a power vacuum which can be expected to be filled by the anti-Khan camp-a process that could be capped with the arrival from London of the in-exile former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, underwritten by a pruned military that has been shaped by Gen. Bajwa.

Second, with a dominantly pro-west dispensation in power, US influence in Pakistan is bound to increase. The military is expected to back the shift, as Gen. Bajwa enjoys excellent ties with the West. In fact, Pak media reports suggest that on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s insistence, Gen. Bajwa called the US Deputy Secretary State Wendy Sherman, requesting her to facilitate the early release of the $1.2 billion first instalment of an IMF loan that a cash strapped Pakistan badly needs. Besides, three days before the terror kingpin Ayman Al Zawahiri was shredded by a hellfire missile in Kabul on July 31, Gen. Bajwa was on the phone with US Central Command Chief General Michael Erik Kurilla, leading to speculation that the Pak military had coordinated with the Americans the fatal drone strike.

Third, the purge is bad news for the Chinese whose CPEC projects are likely to suffer, especially as the IMF is likely to scrutinise the project details, pick holes in them, before parting with its loans. Already, News International website is reporting that the China-built Dasu hydropower project’s stage -1 with the capacity to generate 2160 MW hydel electricity has been delayed by three years, resulting in cost overrun of Rs 100 billion.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ-Imran’s top aide arrested on sedition charges

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Probe against Pakistani charities launched

In its verdict, the ECP observed the ‘unknown accounts’ and said that hiding accounts are a “violation of the Constitution”…reports Asian Lite News

Amid an ongoing probe into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s prohibited funding case agencies in the United Kingdom have started investigations into misuse of funds by Pakistan charity organizations into misuse of funds.

Sources privy to the matter said that the British agencies have started the investigation against Pakistani charities after UK’s Charity Commission and the National Crime Agency received complaints, according to local media reported. Both institutions are investigating the case.

According to local media, it has been alleged that funds collected in the name of charitable organizations have been sent to Pakistan but were used for political purposes.

Sources, cited in the media, further said that funds were collected in Britain in the name of a hospital and university established in Pakistan, which was later used for political purposes. British investigative agencies have been given the complaints with the evidence.

Along with the application, the detailed decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against PTI in the foreign funding case, a report published in the Financial Times, and details of accounts of the political parties have also been provided to the investigating agencies, the sources said.

Pakistan’s FIA has summoned 10 leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf including former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, former MPA Seema Zia and others to address questions during the probe.

The probe agency has also identified four employees of the PTI secretariat, whose personal and salary accounts were used for receiving foreign funding. The agency said funds were received in the bank accounts of Muhammad Arshad, Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Rafique, and Nauman Afzal. In the statements, the PTI employees said that they used to give the money received in their accounts to PTI’s finance manager, according to a report in local Pakistan newspaper.

They said they would give signed blank cheques to the finance manager. According to the publication, the FIA came to know during the investigation that besides other accounts, foreign funding was also received in employees’ salary accounts.

FIA earlier constituted a six-member team to probe the case.

This investigation came a few days after the three-member Election Commission of Pakistan bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding in the case pending since 2014, Geo News reported.

Akbar S Babar, the man who blew the lid off the scam involving the inflow of dubious foreign funds into Imran Khan’s political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI on Wednesday.

Babar told the FIA that the PTI’s financial board in 2011 illegally authorised four employees of the party’s central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad.

In its verdict, the ECP observed the ‘unknown accounts’ and said that hiding accounts are a “violation of the Constitution”.

Moreover, it found that PTI Chairman and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I.

The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received.

ALSO READ-Pakistani channel suspended in another curb on media freedom

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Imran in trouble after chief of staff Shahbaz Gill’s arrest

Another PTI leader Murad Saeed also reported his arrest and said that the glass windows of his car were broken. He also claimed that an assistant of Gill was beaten up…reports Asian Lite News

PTI leader and Imran Khans chief of staff, Shehbaz Gill, has been arrested on sedition charges, media reports said.

Imran Khan has called an emergency meeting of the party over the arrest. Gill’s arrest was first reported by PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry and Murad Saeed on Twitter, Samaa TV reported.

“Shahbaz Glll has been abducted from Bani Gala Chowk by people who came in vehicles without number plates,” Chaudhry said in a tweet.

Bani Gala Chowk is located around one kilometre from Imran Khan’s Bangi Gala residence.

Another PTI leader Murad Saeed also reported his arrest and said that the glass windows of his car were broken. He also claimed that an assistant of Gill was beaten up.

A video shared by PTI’s official Twitter handle showed broken glass. There was no official word on the arrest of Gill. However, police sources said that Gill has been detained in connection with an FIR registered against him, Samaa TV reported.

He faces sedition charges and has been accused of incitement in connection with a troll campaign against institutions, the sources said. Gill has been moved to an undisclosed location.

A joint investigation team is probing a troll campaign that was launched immediately after a Pakistan Army helicopter crashed in Balochistan’s Lasbela district.

Murad Saeed, in his tweets, said that a “horrible plan” had been hatched yesterday (Monday) night.

Saeed did not elaborate on the alleged plan he was referring to. However, Sheikh Rasheed, a close ally of Imran Khan, also spoke about Khan’s possible arrest and disqualification.

ALSO READ-Imran to contest in 9 assembly seats

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Imran to contest in 9 assembly seats

The announcement first came from PTI’s official Twitter account, and was later confirmed by the party’s Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced he will contest bypolls on all the nine vacant Assembly seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the schedule for bypolls on Friday.

The announcement first came from PTI’s official Twitter account, and was later confirmed by the party’s Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry while speaking at a press conference, the Dawn reported.

 According to the ARY News, in a meeting with journalists, Imran Khan said, “Elections would be held this year, government parties want to single him out….Would fight against the rulers at every platform.”

“The government alliance’s plans to disqualify him would never be completed,” he said, adding that appointing Sikandar Sultan Raja as the ECP chief was a major mistake.

The former premier added that two foreign countries offered him funding in the past but he refused. Leaders with popular support cannot be eradicated, he added.

Imran Khan’s announcement to contest the bypolls on all nine seats has startled many, with some commentators questioning if the PTI chairman could not find any other suitable candidate and the expenses to be incurred on the subsequent by-elections should Imran Khan win multiple seats and quits all but one.

According to the Dawn, a Representative of Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) of Pakistan, Mudassir Rizvi said that the Constitution provided for by-elections to be held within a certain time-frame after a seat fell vacant, as well as allowing a candidate to contest on multiple seats but retain just one, in case the nominee wins from multiple constituencies.

“That way our Constitution also allows state funds to be incurred on political ambitions of political leaders and parties. In just one constituency only, the kind of staff required, number of polling stations and booths set up, and at least a couple of thousand election staff involved, the expenses run into millions each time,” he added.

Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday announced that by-elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats will be held on September 25.

The poll body announced the schedule for the constituencies of NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, as well asNA-237 Malir, NA-239 Korangi Karachi and NA-246 Karachi South.

The nine seats are among the 11 vacated after acceptance of resignations of PTI MNAs by the National Assembly speaker, and their de-notification, last week, following the removal of the party chief Imran Khan from the office of the Prime minister earlier this year.

The NA speaker had accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs, including nine on general seats and two on reserved, under Article 64(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

On July 28, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignations of the PTI Lawmakers three months after the en-mass resignation of the lawmakers on April 11 following the ouster of the former prime minister Imran Khan from the top office after the no-confidence motion moved by the joint opposition in the parliament against him succeeded.

The government accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs including Shireen Mazari, Ali Muhammad Khan, Ijaz Shah, Farrukh Habib, Shandana Gulzar, Fazal Muhammad, Fakhar Zaman, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Jameel Ahmed and Akram Cheema, ARY News reported.

The confirmation of the acceptance of the resignations was issued by the NA Secretariat, which issued a list.

Notably, the PTI members after approval of the party’s leadership tendered their resignations from the National Assembly. PTI MNA Murad Saeed was the first PTI MNA who submitted his resignation to the National Assembly’s speaker, ARY News reported.

The then-Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri approved the resignations of the PTI MNAs. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Economic crisis could deepen if Imran wins

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Economic crisis could deepen if Imran wins

Pic credits Instagram

According to the Dawn, it was estimated that the national exchequer will have to bear the cost of millions of rupees in order to conduct bypolls again…reports Asian Lite News

The announcement by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that he will contest elections on all nine Assembly seats has sparked furore and concerns across the nation as the already crippling economic situation of the country could be exacerbated if the PTI chief wins all the seats by any chance.

Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s announcement to hold by polls in nine Assembly seats which fell vacant after the National Assembly Speaker accepted the resignation of 11 MNAs of PTI, Imran Khan announced his candidature in all nine seats.

 But it should be noted that if the PTI chief wins elections from all nine constituencies then he will have to choose one out of the nine, which will lead the Assembly to conduct the polls once again. The ensuing political instability and rising popularity of Imran Khan could have disastrous consequences for the country’s faltering economy.

According to the Dawn, it was estimated that the national exchequer will have to bear the cost of millions of rupees in order to conduct bypolls again.

The minimum expenditure incurred in an election in one constituency is around Rs 50-100 million, while in sensitive and far-flung areas the cost is approximately around Rs 100 million, sources said.

Sources added that in order to conduct elections in nine constituencies, it is estimated that Rs 500-900 million will be needed as expenses include printing and purchase of material used such as ballot papers, forms, bags, etc.

Moreover, the additional expenses are also incurred on security from rangers and police officials, deployment of army, training of election staff, IT equipment, and transport and fuel.

Consequently, if Khan wins the elections, in any case, bypolls will once again be held in all nine constituencies which will lead to an expenditure of nearly Rs 500-900 million.

This comes as a challenge for Pakistan as the country already is grappling under the economic crisis.

It is pertinent to note here that Imran Khan is already a member of the National Assembly as he won 2018 general elections from Mianwali.

In 2018, Khan contested from five constituencies and won all five. He managed to bag every single seat he contested on, which included, NA-53 Islamabad, NA-35 Bannu, NA-243 Karachi, NA-95 Mianwali, and NA-131 Lahore.

Ultimately, he had to vacant four seats and decided to retain the Mianwali constituency. (ANI)

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Court extends Imran’s bail in vandalism cases


The court had granted interim bail to Khan in 10 cases on June 24, against the surety of Rs 5,000 in each case…reports Asian Lite News

 A local court in Islamabad on Wednesday extended till July 18 the interim bail of the PTI Chairman Imran Khan in vandalism cases during the party’s “long march” on May 25.

Imran Khan did not appear in person unlike in previous hearing.

PTI’s lawyer sought extension of interim bail from the Additional and Sessions court on Imran Khan’s behalf, which was granted, Geo News reported.

Earlier, on June 24, the court had granted bail to Imran Khan in 10 cases, against surety of Rs 5,000 in each case.

The court had granted interim bail to Khan in 10 cases on June 24, against the surety of Rs 5,000 in each case.

At least 15 cases had been registered against Imran Khan in different police stations.

Around 11 PTI leaders were booked in a case pertaining to violence at the Kohsar police station in which the court had reserved its verdict.

The PTI leaders who have been granted pre-arrest bail include former planning minister Asad Umar, ex-deputy speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, Senator Faisal Javed, former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed, ex-defence minister Pervez Khatak, PTI Vice-President Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shehryar Afridi, Ali Mohammad Khan, Sheraz Basharat, Raja Khurram Nawaz and Murad Saeed, among others.

Imran threatens to reveal secrets

Imran Khan on Tuesday threatened to reveal the elements involved in the alleged “foreign conspiracy” that led to his exit from power, stating that it would harm the national interests.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April. Since his ouster from power, he has continued to claim that there was a “foreign conspiracy” by the United States and the then opposition.

In a video message from Islamabad, Imran Khan said that he has recorded a video which involves information about those who have committed “treason” against the country.

“I am quiet for the sake of my country as I don’t want it to be harmed,” said the former Pakistan prime minister, adding that the video will be released as soon as something happens to him.

He said cases of corruption have been registered against the party leaders to shut them up.

“This country is moving towards fascism and anarchy,” he said. Later in a tweet, Khan added, “We are living in Pakistan Under Fascism; Elections are the only solution to this chaos!”

His warning came the same day as Pakistan journalist Imran Riaz Khan was arrested on the outskirts of Islamabad, hours after he claimed that his life was under threat.

Khan was heading to Islamabad when he was arrested in connection with a treason case registered against him in Attock, Pakistan’s Dawn.com reported. He was named in 17 treason cases across Punjab province, the report said.

In a pre-recorded video on his popular video channel, he said, “This video is being recorded for the time of my arrest. They may kill me. After a gap of five hours, if they will harm me, then I will upload such a video on my channel that will cause a furore. I will name everyone. Just wait for 5 hours.”

He also posted on Twitter condemning the “fascist regime” in Pakistan. “Many of us r facing cases just because of our journalism. 20 cases on me. Where is democracy and freedom of speech.”

Imran Khan condemned the arbitrary arrest and said Pakistan is descending into fascism.

“I strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of @ImranRiazKhan by Punjab police tonight. The country is descending into fascism just to make our nation accept an Imported Govt comprising mega crooks. It is time for everyone, esp the media, to unite & stand up against this fascism,” Khan tweeted.

Several cases have been lodged against journalists in Pakistan for cases involving the army and state institutions. This latest arrest comes in the backdrop of a growing crackdown on journalists in Pakistan. (IANS/ANI)

ALSO READ-Pak Defence Minister: Imran devided the nation

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Pak Defence Minister: Imran devided the nation

Pakistan President Arif Alvi recently gave a presidential protocol to the new US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, when he welcomed him in a grand way as Blome took office in Islamabad…reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has slammed former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for continuing the “politics of hate and intolerance”, which he said has divided the whole nation and inflicted damage that might never go away.

Asif said Imran Khan’s politics and narrative based on “hate” against all those who are against him has inflicted a great damage.

“Imran Khan only divided Pakistanis, not only in Pakistan but also in abroad. That is why a person in Canada abuses us. He did not even leave the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mosque,” said the Defence Minister while speaking at the floor of the National Assembly.

“He (Imran Khan) spreads hate everywhere. He could not give love to his blood relatives, how can he give love to this nation,” Asif asked.

Referring to the incident at Majid-e-Nabvi, where PML-N and other political leaders were hurled with abuses and physically assaulted by supporters of Imran Khan, Asif said, “People involved in the incident in Masjid-e-Nabvi were mostly British citizens. There are wealthy people from different countries. Their loyalties are shared.”

“I respect them but they should not damage the country they were born in,” he said.

Imran Khan is also facing criticism for spreading a false narrative of a US-led regime change, through which his government was ousted from power, while on the other hand his party attempts to do damage control with Washington.

Pakistan President Arif Alvi recently gave a presidential protocol to the new US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, when he welcomed him in a grand way as Blome took office in Islamabad.

As President Alvi is from Imran Khan’s political party PTI, the ministers in the Shehbaz Sharif government have slammed the party for playing a double game of spreading false anti-US narrative and at the same time welcoming the US Ambassador with a presidential protocol.

“It was President Alvi who refused to administer the oath of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and said that his conscience did not allow him to accept Sharif as Prime Minister because he was brought into power following a US-led regime change conspiracy. Now the same President welcomes the Ambassador from the same country, which allegedly kicked Imran Khan, chairman of Alvi’s party, out of power,” said Kamran Shahid, senior political analyst.

“I wonder which conscience of the President allowed him to do this,” Shahid added.

ALSO READ-Maryam says Punjab will wipe out Imran in upcoming polls

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Maryam says Punjab will wipe out Imran in upcoming polls

Nawaz then criticised former first lady Bushra Bibi and her friend Farah Gogi and said that these two were Khan’s “mega projects” whose money trails directly led to Bani Gala…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Muslim League-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said that Punjab will wipe out Imran Khan in the upcoming election, local media reported.

While speaking at the public gathering, Maryam Nawaz said that on July 17, which was earlier scheduled for provincial re-election but now the new date is July 22, “Punjab would wipe out Imran Khan’s politics.”

She also said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran khan lost his sense as soon as he lost the Prime Minister post, Geo news reported.

“He is the first politician in the country’s 70-year history who has asked the ‘neutrals’ (referring to Army) to bring him back to power,” Nawaz said.

Nawaz then criticised former first lady Bushra Bibi and her friend Farah Gogi and said that these two were Khan’s “mega projects” whose money trails directly led to Bani Gala.

She also announced that Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz was going to give the masses “the biggest relief package in the history of Punjab” on July 4. reported Geo News.

Earlier, Nawaz addressed a public gathering in Lahore’s PP-167 constituency and claimed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had told the coalition government that they don’t trust the country because of “fitna” referred to Imran Khan.

Nawaz termed the agreement, which is signed between the Fund and “fitna” Khan, as a “bad deal” and also said that the former Prime Minister took a U-turn by breaching the clauses that Pakistan agreed with the global lender.

During her speech, PML-N Vice President claimed that the party supporters from the constituency present in Green Town are more as compared to the number of people attending Khan’s “historic rally” on the Parade ground in Islamabad.

Nawaz said that the coalition government had to make some decisions with a heavy heart, including increasing the prices of petroleum products, because of the wrongdoings of the former Prime Minister Khan.

She further added that if Khan had left something in the reserves, the coalition government would have provided relief to the people.

PML-N President stated that PTI thought that she will not come out to address the rally because of the rising inflation, adding “but I want to tell them that I will stand with the people when times are tough.”

Taking a jibe at the former Prime Minister’s statement regarding him not being elected to know the price of potatoes and tomatoes, the PML-N leader said: “I am not as insensitive as him [Imran Khan] that I would say I am not here to know the price of essentials.” (ANI)

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Imran alleges US conspiracy to set up military base in Pakistan

Imran Khan was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Regime Change: Impact on Politics, Security and Economy’ organised by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI)…reports Asian Lite News

Former Pakistan prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Friday accused the United States of conspiring against him to establish a military base in the country and use it to meet its foreign policy objectives in the region and beyond.

According to The Tribune Express, the PTI chief said that the US once again wants to have bases in Pakistan and use the country against Russia. The issue was going on between the US and Russia but Pakistan can’t import cheap oil and gas from Russia; a condition that doesn’t apply to India, he added.

“Pakistan paid a huge price for taking part in the war on terror but the US never even thanked it for standing by it,” Imran said, adding that the reason was that “we allow others to use us like tissue paper.”

Imran Khan was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Regime Change: Impact on Politics, Security and Economy’ organised by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI).

“When the Economic Survey testified that the economy was flourishing during the PTI tenure as the agricultural industry and other sectors were improving, then why was the PTI government removed under an external conspiracy,” the Tribune Express quoted Khan as saying.

“Those who have powers; those who are our neutrals; those who now say that we have taken a step back and become neutral; isn’t this their Pakistan. Won’t they suffer if the economy goes down?” asked Khan.

During his tenure, Imran had repeatedly said that giving military bases to the US for its future operations in Afghanistan was out of the question. At one point, Imran had categorically said that Pakistan would “absolutely not” allow any bases to the US and use of its territory for any sort of action inside Afghanistan, The Tribune Express reported.

Imran Khan further raised questions on the incumbent government of Shehbaz Shareef, saying that those who have been imposed on Pakistan, show interest in the country, but fled abroad whenever corruption cases are filed against them and come back after striking a deal.

“Those imposed on Pakistan through the US regime change conspiracy had no interest in the country because they were just looting and plundering the national wealth,” he said.

“Is this in Pakistan’s interest,” Imran asked, adding that “If we think that our interest is with these ‘thieves’ then we don’t have any future.”

He further said that the regime change has profoundly harmed Pakistan. The nation was paying the price of the incumbent rulers’ incompetency in the form of inflation and load-shedding, he added.

He said that the PTI government was blamed for not being able to control inflation by the incumbent rulers when they were in the opposition. However, he added, the incumbent government unleashed an unprecedented wave of inflation in just three months, the Tribune Express reported.

Imran Khan was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of “independent” foreign policy. Even after his ouster, the former PM has continued with foreign conspiracy tirades at every rally.

According to the Shehbaz Sharif government, the PTI government did not arrange LNG, coal and furnace oil imports when their prices were at their lowest and international lenders were providing cheaper loans to sustain the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Life becomes miserable as Pak inflation hits 13-yr high

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‘My speed of work will frighten Imran’

Shehbaz: Imran Khan sold Toshakhana gifts in Dubai

The Prime Minister regretted the four years of delay in making the project, launched by the PML-N government under Nawaz Sharif in 2017, operational…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated the Orange Line Metro Bus service, just days after taking charge as the new premier, media reports said.

Sharif had ordered to resume work on this project right after assuming the office of Prime Minister, Geo TV reported.

“The former Prime Minister is panicking because I have been elected as the representative. I will work on a pace I am used to,” Sharif said while addressing the inauguration ceremony here.

“You [Imran Khan] may be panicked due to my speed of work, but the people have stopped panicking,” he said.

The Prime Minister regretted the four years of delay in making the project, launched by the PML-N government under Nawaz Sharif in 2017, operational.

He said that the project was started in 2017 and it had to be made operational by 2018, but the work on it came to a halt when the PML-N’s rule ended.

Taking a jibe at the erstwhile PTI government, the premier said that the lawyers of the then ruling party caused the delay, but couldn’t prove a single penny of corruption in court.

Sharif said that earlier, the country’s defence expenditures used to be met by the national income, but during PTI’s rule, these expenses were met through loans.

“We meet the expenses of welfare and development projects with loans,” he said, Geo News reported.

“The expenditure of this project was brought down to Rs 12 billion from Rs 16 billion,” Sharif said, adding that everything was available, including funds, and that the only thing lacking was the spirit to work and there was no other reason for the delay in completion of the project.

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