Ruling out reconciliation with the opposition parties alliance, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday claimed that the opposition’s no-trust move is part of an alleged “foreign-funded conspiracy” against his government.
He was speaking on the eve of the National Assembly’s taking up the no-confidence move by a trio of opposition parties including the left-leaning Pakistan Peoples Party, right-leaning Pakistan Muslim League, and a politico-religious party.
“The ‘three stooges’ are looting the country for years and all this drama is being done to have Imran Khan surrender like (former army head and president) Musharraf,” he said, addressing a large public gathering of his ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party in Islamabad.
Khan’s show of political power in the capital’s Parade Ground has been interpreted in various ways, most notably signaling his willingness to go for early elections.
But so far, he has not publicly endorsed the call for early elections. Khan faces a tough challenge in maintaining confidence in the National Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament, where over a dozen members belonging to his party are reported to have joined hands with the opposition.
Without naming any foreign powers, Khan said he is being forced into a precarious political situation by following an independent approach to the country’s foreign policy.
He also attempted to appeal to voters and supporters in the name of religion, calling his rally in support of the good or the virtuous.
He said there was no way he would back down from his anti-graft policies.
The opposition parties are trying to blackmail the government. General Musharraf tried to save his government and gave these thieves NRO and it resulted in the destruction of Pakistan, he said.
“Come what may, I will not forgive them even if my government goes or even if I lose my life,” he added.
Most analysts say Khan faces an uphill task in mustering numbers in the National Assembly to adhere to power after around four years as prime minister. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s PMLN and former president Asif Zardari’s PPP are reported to have wooed several disgruntled members of the ruling PTI, headed by Imran Khan.
He appealed to the masses to back him, citing a series of positives on the economic front and in the fight against the corona pandemic.
