ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that it would not be in control of the caretaker government, if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was legally barred from the upcoming elections by the courts, after exhausting all of his legal attempts.
While talking to BBC in the reputed show HARDtalk during his visit to London the Prime Minister said that the fate of Imran Khan has yet to be decided as he has available judicial remedies and if he became unable to fight his case on judicial fronts there are possibilities that he might be legally barred from that process which would be beyond the control of the caretaker government.
He attributed the same criteria for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, while adding that if any individual was barred from the elections via courts it would not be due to executive decision by the caretaker government.
When asked if Nawaz Sharif would be arrested on his return from London, the prime minister said that the law enforcement agencies would have to be cautious about the protective bail or any other legal remedies available.
In another interview with BBC Urdu, the Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar said that in the case of PML-N Supreme Leader, the law has to take its course as he went abroad on a court order.
Regarding participation in elections by the PTI as a political party the prime minister rejected any restriction to anyone in taking part in the polls adding that if someone was charged with riots, vandalism, arson, and instigating people for violence, the law of the land is there to counter such a practice or behaviour. Such unwanted people would exceed 2000 in numbers out of the 250 million population., the prime minister maintained.
Kakar Slams Imran Khan’s Allegations
Slamming Imran Khan’s allegations against the military, Kakar said the same military worked hand in glove with PTI chief during his tenure.
About holding the upcoming election, the prime minister reaffirmed that he was confident for fair and free polls.
Responding to a question, the prime minister said Pakistan had suffered a lot due to the menace of terrorism while losing over 90,000 lives as the country had to take the mess on its own after all including the NATO and ISF left the region.
About recent attacks, the prime minister said that unfortunately, such incident occurred due to the added gadgetry left by US and UK after the drawdown in the affected area adding that during the last regime in Afghanistan, the Afghan army of 300,000 was armed with the latest equipment, however after the withdrawal of US forces these arms and equipment were sold in the black market.
Meanwhile, Pakistan was dealing with the TTP on its soil but their asylum in the neighbouring Afghanistan was part of the problem.
Talking about the recent economic unrest in the country, the prime minister reiterated his government’s resolve to take the country out of the prevailing quagmire whereas the government has already initiated a cracked down against illegal trade of currency and hoarding. The government would also go for the privatization of state-owned entities like PIA, Steel Mill, and Power Discos.
