The prime minister, to a question, regretted, saying he had openly and repeatedly maintained that during the last 75 years, Pakistan was taken at a point, where they were considered by the outer world as seekers of financial help.
“Whether Imran Niazi went aboard with national coffers filled!” he added.
Shehbaz Sharif said with the help of cronies and lackeys, he (Imran) had secured an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) for his sister in a NAB case, which also posed a huge question mark.
He termed the PTI chief a real threat to the country’s solidarity. The unfolding of facts had vindicated his stance that NAB-Niazi connivance had taken Pakistan to the brink of difficulties, he added.
To a question, he maintained that the relevant law and rules would be followed for the appointment of the next army chief.
Regarding the resignations of PTI legislators from the National Assembly, the prime minister said they had never asked them to resign and hinted that they would welcome them if they returned back to the parliament.
About the PTI’s condition of linking return to the National Assembly with holding of a probe over the alleged letter, the prime minister said his meeting with Russian President Putin in Uzbekistan was an evidence, which did not require further investigation. They both had agreed to further promote Pak-Russian bilateral ties and trade.
He ruled out any prospects of reconciliation with Imran Khan due to his past attitude in the parliament.
Replying to a query, the prime minister said Nawaz Sharif would return back once the doctors allowed him.
He said the vice chancellor of Government College University was appointed by the Punjab government, however, Imran Khan’s speech to its students was a highly condemnable act. He assured that they would take up the issue in the parliament, as it was an unpardonable act.
Replying to another question, the prime minister said they had never regretted for coming into power. “We have resolved to save the state of Pakistan from default, and even for it, I will not budge to sacrifice my life,” he stressed.
He said Miftah Ismail was a respectable member of the cabinet but he wanted to resign. Appreciating his work, he said the former minister had done a very good job.
About the return of Ishaq Dar, the prime minister said he was well aware of the issues of finance, and as he was a hard-working man, capable and honest politician, he would further fine tune the economy.
About the oil prices in the global market, he said the government only increased Rs1.50 per liter price of petrol, and did not raise that of diesel.
The disparity between the value of US dollar and the rupee was reflected in the price of petroleum products, he said and hoped that the rupee would gain against the US dollar.
The person who had provided billions of rupees subsidies to the farmers and awarded millions of laptops to the deserving students, could never thought of burdening the pubic with price hike, he maintained. The coalition government had been working round the clock not to burden the general public, he added.
The prime minister said the government had allocated Rs70 billion for the support of flood affectees through the Benazir Income Support Programme. He had never seen such a destruction in his lifetime as caused by the unprecedented floods in the country.
The United Nations Secretary General, he added, had assured him to arrange a donors’ conference for the flood victims of Pakistan and had declared not to leave Pakistan in the time of difficulty. French President Macron had also indicated his support to Pakistan, he said.