Pakistan's fate will be decided on Sunday, PM Imran tells nation

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the nation and shared his vision of politics on Thursday.

His televised address follows the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Assembly session involving the no-confidence motion.

He told the nation that his 25-year politics made him learnt not to become salves, sending an agressive signal to the Opposition that he would fight till the last breath.

About no-treust motion, Khan said the country's fate would be decided on Sunday and that he would fight till the last moment.

Regarding threat letter, the premier stated that it was an "official letter" that was communicated to Pakistan's ambassador, who was taking notes during the meeting. 

He said the envoy was told that if Imran Khan remained in power, Pakistan would face "difficulties".

The premier questioned the nation if this was our standing? "We are a strong nation of 220 million."

Khan said the letter didn't mention any reason and only wanted his ouster.

"We have two ways and have to decide which way to go. Selfishness is a sign of an independent nation."

-- Foreign conspiracy hatched the sitting governemnt--  

"Pakistan was supposed to become a welfare state as British slavery seemed bad to the people," he said adding Pakistan was at a critical juncture now.

Khan said the foreign forces had "developed a liking for" Shahbaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari as they "know where there money and properties are" and "in their 10 years 400 drone attacks happened and they did not condemn it once."

"The most disturbing thing is that they (foreign forces) have links with the people through whom the conspiracy (no trust move) happened, They are stooges, and stooges means loyal slaves," he said.

The PM said the foreign official knew that the ones who would come into power after him would have no issues taking orders from external forces.

People know that they fought till the last ball, Prime Minister Imran Khan
Whatever the outcome of the vote, I will come out stronger, Prime Minister Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday while resolving to fight the conspiracy against his government, said the nation would never forgive and forget the conspirators as well as their supporters.

On Sunday, there is voting (on a no-confidence motion). The country’s fate is about to be decided on Sunday… The nation will decide where they want the country lead to,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister said the people would always remember those who would be committing any treachery on Sunday as they would not buy their argument so easily.

He addressed the nation hours after he chaired the meeting of the National Security Committee which called the formal communication of a foreign country’s official “blatant interference” in Pakistan’s internal affairs and also decided to issue a demarche to the country.

“I will fight if you think this conspiracy will succeed. Future generations will not forgive them. They should not have any misconceptions. It will make no difference to me as I live in my own house, bear my own expenses, and have no family member in politics,” he remarked.

He told the nation that on March 7, the government received a message from a country through Pakistan’s ambassador there, which said that they would pardon Pakistan’s all misgivings of Imran Khan was ousted. If happened otherwise, Pakistan will have to face difficulties.

“This (message) is against the nation,” he said the message coming before the vote of confidence showed that the political opponents were in contact with that country.

“Is this our worth?…We are creeping like snails,” he remarked.

The prime minister said the conspiracy was being hatched through three stooges in Pakistan. They wanted to oust Imran Khan and it will also be fine for that country, he added.

He questioned the nation as whether they would allow the one into power facing NAB cases for corruption of billions of rupees, and an absconder whose corruption tales were also highlighted by the Western media including BBC.

He said out of nothing, the said foreign country expressed its concerns over his Russian visit which he had done after thorough consultation with military leadership, foreign office and think tanks.

He said through their intelligence reports, the foreign countries have all the information about him as well as the opposition leaders and their benami properties and bank accounts abroad.

He said the leaders who were now beloved by the said foreign country, never condemned 400 drone attacks by the US during their tenures killing innocent people.

Referring Wikileaks disclosures, he said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had once offered to serve the US interests if he was given power.

He said instead of condemning Narendra Modi for calling that time army chief General Raheel Sharif a terrorist, he said Nawaz Sharif used to secretly meet with him.

He said instead of condemning the drone attacks, Asif Zardari told the US that the collateral damage made no difference to him.

He said Shahbaz Sharif had opposed his “Absolutely Not” stance to joint US-led war anymore, said his government was pursuing an independent foreign policy.

“Our public representatives are on sale. This is the trade of loyalties. This is the trade of country and sovereignty. What lesson are we giving to our youth? No one will ever call them ideological. Everyone knows them,” the prime minister remarked.

The prime minister said during the US-led war on terrorism, the people of tribal areas, as well as the expatriates, suffered the most but no one spoke for them except himself.

He said the leaders like Nawaz Sharif could never speak against foreign powers because they had riches abroad.

“They are the Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq of this time. The nation will never forget them. The future generations will not forgive them,” he added.

He told the nation that the government had placed the foreign country’s message before the federal cabinet before presenting it to the National Security Committee, services chiefs and the parliamentary committee of the national security.

“This is not for any provocation. It contains even more serious things,” he remarked.

The prime minister vowed not to resign instead resolved to emerge stronger.

He said those who were shifting their loyalties on the pretext of wakened conscience, should have resigned if they had any problem with the government’s performance.    

-- Additional input from APP