No NRO to opposition: PM Khan
Monitoring Desk:
Prime Minister, Imran Khan has categorically stated that he will the office but would not grant any NRO to the protesting opposition parties. The premier spoke at length about national and international issues with anchor Hamza Ali Abbasi in a private TV channel’s program.
Commenting on the opposition, PM Imran said that the parties have been blackmailing the government since day one to grant them amnesty. 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.
“Our biggest problem 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 (peace be upon him) had said he would not forgive his daughter when it came to corruption.
“If I want to let them go, then I should open up our jails,” he said, adding that he would “give up his seat but not give [the opposition] an NRO”.
Commenting on the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) upcoming rally in Lahore on December 13, the premier said that the government has decided to not grant them permission for staging the demonstration.
“Cases are increasing rapidly […] those putting up the sound systems and chairs, FIRs will be registered against them.” However, PM Imran made it clear that the government would not stop the opposition from participating in the rally.
“We will not stop them so that they can’t [act] dramatic and assume the role of revolutionaries [and] try to become Joan of Ark or Che Guevara.”
He maintained that the government had canceled its rallies and public gatherings after the country witnessed an uptick in Covid-19 cases.
“We have once again started stressing on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for curbing the spread of the virus. But if this union of crooks thinks that this jalsa will put pressure on me, then they are wrong. No one has organized rallies as big as the PTI.”
