A series of media addresses by ministers of the Shehbaz Sharif government on Thursday reveal pincer-like moves to attack former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Thursday saw an all-out attack on Imran Khan by four ministers of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, revealing a method to the attacks on the former Pakistan cricket captain and former prime minister.
The day began with Minister for Poverty Alleviation, Shazia Merri calling out Khan’s political agenda against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N, ridiculing him for the small gatherings at his campaign to grab power.
Hours later, Khurram Dastigar Khan, the country’s energy minister told television reporters to say Imran Khan’s government was to blame for high inflation and a damaged economy.
He said that the PTI has left behind massive current account deficit and many power plants were closed down due to weak policies.
Then, as if on cue, senior minister and minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Murtaza Javed Abbasi called the press to describe the three-and-a-half years of Imran Khan’s government as the darkest period in the country’s history.
He said that the previous government was led by an incompetent and corrupt gang of looters that destroyed every sector of government, setting “the record highest debt” and damaging the economy.
Icing on the cake
The, late towards the evening, with an eye on the television debates, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb went full blast, announcing that government had decided to constitute an inquiry commission to probe the foreign conspiracy drama orchestrated by Imran Khan.
Marriyum told a news conference that the reason behind Khan’s campaign and his only concern was to protect his front person, Farah Gogi who indulged in corrupt practices during the “fascist, autocratic, corrupt and incompetent rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).”
The information minister said that the terms of reference and the names of the people on the inquiry commission would be announced after the next cabinet meeting, going hammers and tongs on how Imran Khan weaved a conspiracy against the country to save his “benami”, Farah Gogi.
She said there was plenty evidence of massive financial irregularities committed by Imran and his front persons while establishing the Al-Qadir University in the name of Riyasat-e-Medina.
“It is high time for bringing the politics of allegation and lies to an end. The inquiry report will be put before the public and those who used to hurl allegations on others will be taken to the court,” she said while announcing action against the PTI leadership involved in harming the national interest.
The minister alleged that over Rs 840 million were transferred in 44 bank accounts held by Farah Gogi, who also got prized land allotments in Punjab.
The minister referred to the country’s poor ranking by international NGO, Transparency International. Pakistan ranked 140 in the organisation’s 2021 report, she said, pointing to the corruption-marred rule of Imran with Gogi as his front person.
She termed the report an international certificate for the thieves who, she alleged, stole precious gifts from Tosha Khana and looted the national treasury.
