Our Correspondent
Sialkot
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the constitutional way to send a government packing is to table a no-confidence motion in the Parliament and dared the Opposition to do so.
“If the Opposition seeks to move a no-confidence motion, they should come and do so in the assemblies,” he said, criticising the call for mass resignations from assemblies by Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
His remarks came during a conversation with journalists in the city in which he touched upon several issues, including the current political climate in the country, Pakistan’s economy, corruption, and the aftermath of coronavirus.
Speaking further of the resignations, which the Opposition says will be handed in for both provincial as well as national assemblies, the prime minister said: “If they hand in resignations, we will hold by-elections on those seat and will emerge even stronger.” “I do not understand what they aim to do,” he added.
Imran Khan said that democracy will only work in the country if a national dialogue is held between the government and the Opposition, adding that he has never backed down from the idea.
“The best place for political dialogue is the Parliament,” the prime minister said. “I had said from the beginning that I was ready to answer all questions in the Parliament.”
He went on to say that whenever the government talks about dialogue, the Opposition starts demanding the closure of corruption cases against their leaders.
“Cases were filed against many Opposition leaders during their own tenures,” the premier revealed. “Ishaq Dar, Nawaz Sharif’s children and his son-in-law all fled from the country in the past.”
Talking to media here on Wednesday, he said that democracy would only work when there is a debate, he said. The prime minister said that the biggest challenge for the government was to steer the country of crisis, adding that his government had inherited historical deficits in every sector.
Regarding political situation, he said the opposition asks them [government] to close the corruption cases, whenever government held dialogues with them, adding that the cases against the opposition leaders were registered during their own tenure.
“We have no problem and government is ready to hold talks on any issue but NRO will not be discussed,” he said and added corruption cases could not be closed.
Earlier, addressing an event organised by the Sialkot business community following the inauguration of Air Sial, he expressed concern over the attitude of the opposition parties and said that those who had criticized the government for not observing complete lockdown are now holding public gatherings.
