Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday reacted sharply to his predecessor Imran Khan’s controversial remarks of “breaking Pakistan into three pieces” and said the former prime minister was “unfit” to hold any public office following his latest statements.
Khan, in an interview with Bol News on Wednesday, talked about, among other things, a possible breakdown of the country if the right decisions are not taken.
Shahbaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to Turkey, interviewed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief about language elections, particularly breaking up the country, accusing him of “making naked threats against the opposition”. strongly opposed. country”, and warned him against “talking” [the] Partition of Pakistan”.
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“When I am signing agreements in Turkey, Imran Niazi is making naked threats against the country. If any evidence was needed that Niazi is unfit for public office, his latest interview is sufficient,” the prime minister tweeted.
“Do your politics but don’t dare cross the limits and talk of partition of Pakistan,” he said.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the former prime minister admitted in interviews that he did not enjoy full power as prime minister, indicating that the real centers of power in the country are elsewhere and “everybody knows that he where is”.
Khan, who came to power in 2018, reportedly with the backing of the military, is the only Pakistani prime minister to be voted out in a no-confidence motion in parliament. He was replaced by Shahbaz Sharif of PML-N.
The Pakistan military, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its 73-plus years of existence, has so far wielded considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. However, the army has consistently denied its involvement in politics.
Asked to recall the events of the night of the no-confidence vote against him, who was issuing orders and obstructing cases against leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khan said that his government was “weak” when it came to power and had to look for coalition partners, adding that if the same situation arises again, he will opt for re-election and seek a majority government. Will do it or not at all.
“Our hands were tied. We were blackmailed from everywhere. We didn’t have power. Everyone knows where the power is in Pakistan, so we had to depend on them,” he said.
In a separate statement shared on PML-N’s Twitter, the premier said Imran’s remarks were proof that the PTI chief was “involved in a conspiracy, not politics”.
He said Khan was spreading “anarchy” because of his “desperation and sick mentality”, and that his statement was tantamount to Pakistan’s enemies.
“This is not a statement but a conspiracy to incite the fire of anarchy and partition in the country,” Shahbaz said.
“Losing power does not mean that you wage war against Pakistan, its unity and its institutions,” he said, warning Imran not to “attack” the federation and the country’s institutions. “Do not exceed the limit [defined] By law and constitution.”
Earlier, condemning Khan’s remarks, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said: “Imran Khan, power is not everything in this world. Be brave and stand on your own feet in politics.” Learn to do,” the Twitter handle of PPP quoted. Zardari told the PTI chief that the desire to divide Pakistan cannot be fulfilled unless we and our future generations are alive.
In interviews the former prime minister warned that once Pakistan was destroyed, it would default, and the international world would ask the country to move towards nuclear disarmament – as Ukraine did in the 1990s.
Khan said that if Pakistan were to lose its nuclear deterrence, it would split into three pieces. “The country is heading towards suicide if the right decisions are not taken at this time,” he warned.
Information Minister Maryam Nawaz Aurangzeb also criticized Khan’s remarks.
Describing Khan’s mental illness as “in the late stages of insanity”, Aurangzeb said: “Such a man roaming freely in Pakistan is dangerous and has shown it time and again.”
The former prime minister’s remarks, which were also discussed in the Senate on Thursday, were described as giving rise to a “sense of concern” in the country.
During his address to the House, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said Wednesday’s remarks could not come from a person who held the highest public office in Pakistan, except when the “conspiracy” took place.
“It is a matter of security of Pakistan. “The way the former prime minister has spoken is dangerous to national security.”
Stating that Khan had “bipolar disorder”, Senator Asif Kirmani said: “Such patients are treated with electric shock.”
PPP leader Yousuf Raza Gilani said: “To say that the country will break into three pieces, you should not say this as a Pakistani. Then to say that the establishment or the army will be destroyed, [our] Enemies also say the same thing, then to say that the country will go bankrupt and our nuclear assets will also be taken away, we condemn it.”