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PM asks aides for legal plan to bring Nawaz back
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders to foil all moves of the opposition aimed at destabilising the government and maligning the army, and devise a legal strategy to bring back Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif from the United Kingdom.
He issued the directives while presiding over the first meeting of a committee recently formed to counter the narrative of the opposition. The committee comprises federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shafqat Mahmood and Pervez Khattak.
A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the prime minister was committed to bringing back Nawaz Sharif from London and directed the committee members to devise a legal strategy because in the absence of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK, it would become difficult to get the PML-N leader extradited.
The source said the committee would meet on a daily basis and make day-to-day plans on how to counter the opposition’s moves in parliament, media and on political forums.
The meeting also decided to contact the five ‘rebel’ PML-N members of the Punjab Assembly who had recently met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar without informing the party leadership.
Prime Minister Khan vowed to defeat the opposition’s designs and defend state institutions, including the army. “Enemies of the army are in fact enemies of Pakistan,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.
He said he did not fear the opposition’s campaign against the government, once again ruling out any National Reconciliation Ordinance-like concession. He said it was his mission to expose corrupt politicians. “The opposition leaders have a problem with the army, and that is why their corruption is being traced.”
Mr Khan said Nawaz Sharif and India wanted to weaken the country. “Nawaz Sharif wants to bring people on to the streets while he and his children are sitting in London,” he said, adding that the former prime minister wanted institutions to protect his interests.
Responding to Mr Sharif’s claim that he had been asked by former Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam to resign, the prime minister wondered: “Why did he [Nawaz Sharif] not take a firm stand then and why did he not speak on that occasion?”
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday asked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders to foil all moves of the opposition aimed at destabilising the government and maligning the army, and devise a legal strategy to bring back Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif from the United Kingdom.
He issued the directives while presiding over the first meeting of a committee recently formed to counter the narrative of the opposition. The committee comprises federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shafqat Mahmood and Pervez Khattak.
A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the prime minister was committed to bringing back Nawaz Sharif from London and directed the committee members to devise a legal strategy because in the absence of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK, it would become difficult to get the PML-N leader extradited.
A couple of days ago, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Shahzad Akbar had told Dawn that he had written fresh letters to the British authorities for Mr Sharif’s repatriation, adding that a formal application had also been sent for his extradition. The adviser was of the view that though both countries had no extradition treaty, wanted people could be handed over to each other under special arrangements.
The source said the committee would meet on a daily basis and make day-to-day plans on how to counter the opposition’s moves in parliament, media and on political forums.
The meeting also decided to contact the five ‘rebel’ PML-N members of the Punjab Assembly who had recently met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar without informing the party leadership.
Prime Minister Khan vowed to defeat the opposition’s designs and defend state institutions, including the army. “Enemies of the army are in fact enemies of Pakistan,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.
He said he did not fear the opposition’s campaign against the government, once again ruling out any National Reconciliation Ordinance-like concession. He said it was his mission to expose corrupt politicians. “The opposition leaders have a problem with the army, and that is why their corruption is being traced.”
Mr Khan said Nawaz Sharif and India wanted to weaken the country. “Nawaz Sharif wants to bring people on to the streets while he and his children are sitting in London,” he said, adding that the former prime minister wanted institutions to protect his interests.
Responding to Mr Sharif’s claim that he had been asked by former Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam to resign, the prime minister wondered: “Why did he [Nawaz Sharif] not take a firm stand then and why did he not speak on that occasion?”
PM asks aides for legal plan to bring Nawaz back
“Enemies of the army are in fact enemies of Pakistan,” the premier says.
www.dawn.com
