- PTI chief says arrest warrants won’t force him for a compromise with PM, says no justification for govt to hold negotiations with a court absconder
- PM spokesman says no invitation sent to Khan for talks while Rashid terms PTI chief’s allegations ‘bundle of lies’
As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan boastfully rejected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s “invitation for talks” saying that arrest warrant issued against him could not scare him into holding negotiations with the government, a spokesman for the prime minister said that Sharif had not invited Khan for talks in the first place.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of PTI supporters in Zafar Stadium of Sahiwal on Saturday, the PTI chief asked, “Why would Nawaz Sharif want to have talks with someone who has been declared a wanted man? I would not want to negotiate with someone who is a criminal or a suspect, or someone who is complicit in rigging.”
PM’s spokesman Musadiq Malik, on the other hand, said that no such offer had been made and the PTI chairman was making a “misstatement”. He said that whenever a meeting was to be held between Sharif and Khan, it would be according to the law and Constitution.
An anti terrorism court (ATC) on November 12 had issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others for attacking Pakistan Television (PTV) building and Parliament during their sit-ins.
Khan told his supporters in Sahiwal that politically-motivated cases were being registered in Punjab and that no such case was lodged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against political opponents.
He said that PTI knocked all doors seeking justice but unfortunately all its pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
“The election tribunals which were supposed to dispense justice in four months failed to do so even after a lapse of 17 months. “Will we ever be able to get justice,” he said.
The PTI chief said that he has no thirst for power, adding that his struggle was aimed at endowing the poor countrymen of their basic rights.
“Rulers will continue to treat the masses like cattle if they will act as silent spectators and don’t stand up for their rights,” he said.
‘REPENT AND YOU’LL BE EMBRACED’:
Responding to the PTI chief’s allegations levelled during the rally, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had not contacted Khan or had made any request for resolving the issues on talks table. However, he said that if Khan realises his mistakes, he would be welcomed back into the Parliament.
The minister said that since the court had issued warrants against Khan, he was in trouble and was trying to find words to clarify his position and satisfy his supporters.
Rashid also raised question over the language used by the PTI chairman against political leaders. He said that PM Sharif who enjoys complete support from masses and majority of political parties has become symbol of fear for PTI chief.
Rashid said that Khan alleges others of misuse of national exchequer but himself spoiling millions of rupees of public on protest rallies.
Regarding Khan’s arrest warrants, Rashid said that he was hopeful of Khan appearing before the court given how he had breached the rule of law.