Media is abuzz with reports about the possibility of a “deal” being brokered between the Imran Khan-led government and the convicted opposition leaders. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Monday, made it clear that he will never compromise on the scores of corruption cases filed against former PML-N and PPP rulers, striking out the possibility of any deal.
Prime Minister Imran Khan held a meeting with Dr Babar Awan in his office for legal consultation over various matters.
🇵🇰🇵🇰 #PMIK pic.twitter.com/2rENglHVW7— PTI Media Cell Pakistan Official (@PTIMCPak) September 16, 2019
In a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan at the Prime Minister Office on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there would be “no deal” or compromise on the corruption cases filed against former rulers.
No Deal for the Corrupt
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he is satisfied with the proceedings of the accountability process, and maintained that for the first time in Pakistan’s history, the accountability system is not influenced by any political interference. He pledged that the accountability proceedings will continue, and the corrupt will be held accountable for plundering the nation’s wealth.
Shahbaz Sharif is back in the market, and he appears to be in a good position to bargain. Shahbaz is an expert when it comes to navigating his way through a complicated situation by engaging in dialogue.
A press release issued by the PTI stated that following his meeting with Prime Minister Khan, Babar Awan said that all media reports about a “deal” between the opposition leaders and the government will be disappointed. He said that the accountability process is yielding positive results, which will soon be revealed to the entire nation.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Babar Awan also discussed the ongoing situation across Pakistan, particularly related to the constitutional and legal matters. The Premier consulted Babar Awan on his upcoming visit to Washington and Riyadh.
Read more: NRO for corrupt leaders is betrayal with the Nation: PM Imran Khan
The premier maintained that presently, he is focused on the Kashmiri cause and his address at the UN General Assembly, scheduled for later this month. Babar Awan noted that the PTI-led government has taken the right step by formulating an aggressive strategy of Kashmir. He said that for the first time, the case of Kashmir’s brutal oppression is being heard across the globe due to Pakistan’s successful foreign policy initiatives.
The Rumor Mill
Sheikh Rasheed, Federal Minister for Railways, on Sunday hinted at the possibility of some developments in the “ongoing negotiations for a deal” with the PML-N leadership. Sheikh Rasheed had said, “Shahbaz Sharif is back in the market, and he appears to be in a good position to bargain. Shahbaz is an expert when it comes to navigating his way through a complicated situation by engaging in dialogue.”
Govt not to give NRO to political parties : Sheikh Rashid #moib @ShkhRasheed @pakistanrail pic.twitter.com/Dz8vOtKuwo
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) September 15, 2019
The railways minister added, “Shahbaz is in contact.” Sheikh Rasheed also hinted at the possibility of another reshuffle in the federal cabinet.
Interestingly, Dr. Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, also apprised the media that he wanted the “businesses to remain unaffected by the accountability process.”
Read more: Will Nawaz Sharif get NRO and be allowed to leave Pakistan?
Prime Minister Imran Khan has, on multiple occasions, made it clear that he would never allow any compromise, or a National Reconciliation Ordinance-like deal with the former premier Nawaz Sharif, and former President Asif Ali Zardari, amongst other opposition leaders facing corruption charges.
Prominent analyst Dr. Moeed Pirzada tweeted in this regard, “Growing nexus of laws, regulations & restrictions have made life miserable for common businessmen, if Nawaz & family left without convictions it will destroy all political gains & national narrative of past five years!”
Growing nexus of laws, regulations & restrictions have made life miserable for common businessmen, if Nawaz & family left without convictions it will destroy all political gains & national narrative of past five years! https://t.co/4o5aw3OxQE via @@GVS_News
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) September 14, 2019
Shafqat Mehmood, Federal Minister for Education on a talk show asserted that he had heard that there was talk that if the looted money is given back to Pakistani government there can be an offer of NRO but later assured that Imran Khan will not offer any NRO to anyone no matter what the circumstances.
https://www.zemtvs.com/imran-khan-will-not-give-nro-to-sharif-family-shafqat-mehmood-11-september-2019-92newshd/