Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday said that no false case would be lodged against former prime minister Imran Khan, as all cases against him would be based on evidence.
Addressing a press conference in Model Town, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader alleged that Imran Khan sold Toshakhana gifts abroad and caused damage to the reputation of the country.
He alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) while being in power hampered the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and soured its ties with the European Union, the United States and many other Muslim countries, putting Pakistan at risk internationally.
The PML-N leader also accused the PTI of making attempts to pressurize the Election Commission of Pakistan to influence the foreign funding case.
The statement came at a moment when the PTI announced protests outside the ECP offices in the country. A day before, PTI Chairman Imran Khan urged Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to step down, accusing him of being biased. In response to resignation’s demand, Raja said there was no valid reason to do so and he would remain in his position in the best interest of the country.
Ahsan Iqbal, in his presser, also rejected the notion that the government was worried about Imran’s expected to march to Islamabad, saying that ousted Imran was doing what he had done before coming into power, and would continue to do so in the future.
He alleged that Imran Khan was playing with Pakistan’s interests just to keep his “failed politics” alive.
Talking about the foreign conspiracy, Ahsan said the National Security Committee (NSC) twice dismissed the possibility of any foreign conspiracy.
He said Pakistan could be made strong only with a strong economy and that would not be possible unless the country’s economy got aligned with the global economy.
“We don’t want Pakistan to turn into Cuba or North Korea. We have to set Pakistan on the path of Turkey, Malaysia, China and South Korea.
The minister also strongly criticized Imran by saying that when a no-trust motion was moved against him, he asked the deputy speaker (Qasim Suri) to violate the constitution and then tried to portray himself as a hero.
“Such people are no heroes… they are criminals,” said the minister, assuring that action would be taken against them.
He also defended the top court’s ruling regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly and subsequent voting on the no-confidence vote, saying, “The Supreme Court has fulfilled its duty and no one has the right to point fingers at the institution.”
He was of the view that the country would move forward and the coalition government would address all the issues of the country.
He also said the public would be given relief in some time, adding that the government’s priority was to overhaul the economy.
