SARGODHA: Adopting a tone he is not known for, an otherwise mild-mannered Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday turned aggressive while responding to criticism of his recent remarks about the outcome of Senate elections as well as the controversy caused by his unexpected meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan.

His remarks appeared to be all the more interesting considering that while the CJP denied having used word faryadi for the PM, the latter chose to ignore the denial. “Someone said I went to the CJP as a faryadi (supplicant). Yes, I went to him as a faryadi for the sake of the country. The country equally “belongs to me, the CJP, Imran Khan” or everybody else, said Mr Abbasi while addressing the ceremonies of a cardiology centre at the district headquarters hospital and two gas pipelines for Sargodha city.

PTI chief Imran Khan, shortly after the premier’s meeting with the CJP, had said Mr Abbasi must have begged the CJP to spare his party’s supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, who is facing corruption references.

Mr Abbasi said that his party rivals, irked by his meeting with the CJP, were levelling baseless allegations against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Abbasi explains why he met CJP as ‘supplicant’

“I had contacted the CJP and he asked me to visit him. I am the prime minister of this nation. The chief justice heads an institution. If I find any difficulty, I am bound to meet him and try to remove it. How will the country run if we confine ourselves to our offices and not talk to each other?” Mr Abbasi said, recalling his statement at the Parliament House that the government was facing issues in running some official matters.

He explained that no personal issues were discussed during the meeting which continued for two hours. “I hope he [the CJP] would have understood my words. I also listened to him. The countries are run this way only. This is nothing new,” he said, adding that there was no possibility for a judicial coup or martial law in Pakistan.

Senate election

The prime minister then came down hard on the election of senators and Senate chairman, saying some political parties had attempted to disgrace the democratic system by horse-trading.

“I am saying this again that money was used to get the Senate chairman elected. I repeat that the people of Pakistan do not accept the seats obtained by using money. Those who have become senators or Senate chairman using the money cannot represent Pakistan. These people need to be sent packing,” reiterated the prime minister.

He said that the opposition was annoyed over his Senate poll stand. He challenged Imran Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to say it on the record that the loyalty of the lawmakers had not been bought.

“I challenge Mr Khan and Mr Zardari to appear on television and say that votes of lawmakers were not bought. Mr Khan used to lament that Mr Zardari had bought 14 PTI lawmakers. And when the time to elect the Senate chairman came, he voted for Mr Zardari’s candidate,” regretted Mr Abbasi, saying he was taking pride in that his party had not spent a single rupee to buy votes.

Mr Abbasi said Mr Sharif did not expect justice from the accountability court yet he appeared before it.

Earlier, the prime minister unveiled plaques to launch three mega development projects. He recounted the achievements of the government in the road infrastructure, power and economic sectors, adds APP.

The prime minister also announced that the government would establish a women’s university, cancer hospital and a children’s hospital in Sargodha besides providing gas supply to the remaining parts of the city.

He expressed the hope that the PML-N would get more seats in the upcoming general election.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2018