Imran taunts Nawaz for his intention to target judiciary

Published December 18, 2017
OKARA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan addresses the public meeting.—Online
OKARA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan addresses the public meeting.—Online

OKARA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has taunted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for his intention to run a campaign against the judiciary.

“Cowards cannot launch campaigns. Nevertheless, if you do come out (against judiciary) the PTI will come out against you,” he told a party meeting at the municipal stadium here on Sunday evening.

The open-air gathering was organised by PTI’s district and tehsil level organisations, as well as some two dozen candidates/aspirants for party tickets in the next general elections.

The PTI chief said Nawaz Sharif always wanted a tamed judiciary. “He wants people like Justice Qayyum at the helm who were dictated by the Sharifs.”

He said the next elections would be interesting with Shahbaz Sharif likely to lead the PML-N campaign. At the same time, he said, his party would approach the National Accountability Bureau against the Punjab chief minister with some new evidence.

Mr Khan said that Nawaz Sharif was campaigning only to save his 300 billion rupees he had laundered after corruption. He said the Sharifs had become owners of more than 40 mills during their stay in power.

The PTI chairman said strong institutions could provide strong base for the development and progress of the country. He said that after coming to power the PTI government would develop an efficient accountability system.

He said Europe had progressed because of strong institutions and investment in education and health.

He said Okara district was the hub of agriculture but growers were suffering a lot due to wrong policies of the Sharifs.

About Shaikh Rashid’s suggestion (to Imran Khan) to remarry Jemima Khan whose evidence had helped the PTI chief escape disqualification, Mr Khan asked him not to recall old matters.

He praised Jahangir Tareen who resigned immediately after his disqualification.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen, Sheikh Rashid, Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, Samsam Ali Bukhari, Masood Shafqat Rubera, Anwar Pasha, Tariq Irshad and Ashraf Khan Sohna also addressed the gathering.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2017

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
Updated 23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

Notion that Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom of expression difficult to reconcile with the reality of restrictions.
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...