ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday ruled out any possibility of NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) for opposition leaders, saying that any agreement with corrupt elements would be equivalent to treachery with the country.
While talking to a private news channel, PM Imran said that the opposition parties have been blackmailing the government since day one to grant them amnesty.
He said, “Unless they are held accountable, the country could not be put on a track of progress. They just want to hear three words ‘NRO’ from me. He said that he would “give up his seat but not utter to give the opposition an NRO”.
He maintained that the NRO given to the opposition by former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf had had disastrous effects on the country, leading to an increase in debt liabilities.
“I can completely understand what the nation is going through. They (opposition) have become billionaires, they have foreign properties,” the premier said.
PM Imran said, “The country’s biggest issue is that we have debt and there is a deficit between what we earn and what we spend.” He added that the opposition wanted to be “forgiven”, but said that even the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had said he would not forgive his daughter when it came to corruption.
Commenting on the PDM’s upcoming rally in Lahore, the premier said that the government has decided to not grant them permission for staging the demonstration.
He also said, “We all know about the orders of the courts and the National Command and Operation Centre regarding rallies and gatherings which presents a risk of spreading the virus is unlawful and legal action will be initiated against it.”
The opposition wanted to throw dust in the eyes of people through the campaign to hide their corruption, he added.
“The Opposition has no moral ground to launch the anti-government movement,” he said, adding that the government will not bow down to the pressure tactics and will continue accountability of the corrupt elements.
PM Imran said that the past regimes had ruined the state institutions. However, he said, the PTI-led federal was making all-out efforts to steer the country out of the crises and put it on the path to progress.
Commenting on the COVID-19 pandemic, the PM said that the global economic situation and prevalent uncertainty have its impact on all world countries, including Pakistan. He said that the government was taking serious measures for protecting the people from coronavirus.
PM Imran also urged that the concerned stakeholders should play a responsible role and help in the stabilization of the economy and institutions.
