ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has strongly criticized the opposition leaders, asking who they want to speak to if not Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The minister was referring to statements made by opposition leaders at their public gatherings. During Lahore’s rally, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had said the time for dialogue has passed, now there will be a long march. PML-N’s asked who was behind the operations of the House.
Taking to journalists today (Monday), Sheikh Rashid said, “We don’t want to close the doors for dialogue. The opposition says it does not want to talk to Imran. Tell us who you wish to speak to.”
“PDM buried its politics yesterday at the same place they used to make tall claims” he maintained, adding, “if children from madrassahs did not show up for yesterday’s rally, the opposition would have had to face a lot of disappointment.”
Talking about the opposition’s decision to submit leaves from parliament, he said, “We are waiting for the resignations of the PDM members. If they want to do long marches then do it and if they have to resign then resign, we will do what the constitution and law allow.”
He further said that the opposition had not said anything new at the Lahore rally. However, he termed Mahmood Achakzai’s remarks ‘irresponsible’. “All those that lose elections develop mental health issues,” he said.
The federal minister also said, “The opposition leaders are spending billions of rupees on meetings and have come to the streets to save the money they have looted in the first place.”
“Imran Khan has explicitly said he will leave his seat but will not give the opposition an NRO. He directed me to say this during the press conference that the sun can rise from the West and set in the East but he will not give them an NRO,” he concluded.
