Sharif, Modi on same page: Imran

“Nawaz is following Modi’s ‘interests’ in Pakistan. Nawaz is behind the security leaks story which defamed the armed forces. Actually, his and Modi’s agendas are same,” the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf chairman said. Imran asserted that “everybody knows” that sacked Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid cannot leak sensitive information to the media on his own. 

Sharif on Saturday sacked Rashid over the recent “leaked” media report about a rift between the civilian and military leaderships on support to militancy. “Rashid is a darbari (courtier) and he did what Nawaz told him to do so,” Imran said. “The whole state machinery is being used to save a corrupt Prime Minister. I will not accept a ‘suspect’ as Prime Minister of Pakistan. As long as I am alive, I will not go after Nawaz Sharif’s corruption,” the 64-year-old leader said.

Imran stressed that there was no difference between Pervez Musharraf’s dictatorship and Sharif’s democracy. He asked under what law his party workers were being arrested and roads blocked. “Our legal team will move the court,” Imran stated.

Police arrested over 100 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters trying to reach party chief Imran’s residence. Police also baton-charged protesters in the Pakistan Chowk area. Police used tear-gas and baton to stop the PTI activists from reaching Bani Gala residence of Imran. However, no PTI worker suffered serious injuries. Meanwhile, Islamabad police said they recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, alcohol and three tear gas shells from PTI leader Amin Gandapur’s car outside Bani Gala. 

The Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf has announced locking down Islamabad on November 2 to pressure Sharif to resign in connection with probe into his off shore holdings revealed in Panama Papers. The government has already blocked provincial roads to the capital and arrested around 1,000 Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf workers. Imran also said Sharif and his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were using the whole state machinery to save a corrupt prime minister.