Prime Minister Imran Khan said Tuesday the entire nation was ready to go down with him rather than supporting the "three stooges", as he slammed the Opposition amid rising political tensions due to the no-confidence motion.
In his address to the overseas convention in Islamabad, the prime minister said: "When the people saw the faces of the three stooges — PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari — they decided against supporting them and expressed their desire to go down with (me)."
The prime minister thanked the Opposition for moving the no-confidence motion as through this, his party had strengthened, with people all-geared up for the March 27 rally — which is expected to take place just a day before the National Assembly votes on the no-trust motion.
PM Imran Khan also thanked the Opposition "wholeheartedly" as they had made people forget the rates of potatoes and tomatoes.
The premier said he and his team were always trying to figure out ways to reduce the impact of inflation on the masses, but after the Opposition's no-confidence motion, the focus shifted to mainstream politics rather than inflation.
PM Imran Khan said neither of the three parties — PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F — worked at the grass-root levels and did "actual politics", while the PTI struggled for more than two decades to get to where it is today. "They cannot defeat us."
The prime minister said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was also named 'Diesel' by PML-N.
PM said that if the army of the country would not be strong, the country could have been divided into parts.
“Allah has protected Pakistan, because its Army knows how to do the country’s defense.”
PM Imran said that Hussain Haqqani gave message to the head of the US Army to save Zardari from Pak Army.
The premier went on to say that Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, once said that Nawaz Sharif, who was afraid of Pak Army was meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secretly.
Imran Khan said that it is painful for the overseas Pakistanis when people like Nawaz, Zardari bring bad name to the country.
PM Imran Khan said neither of the three parties — PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F — worked at the grass-root levels and did "actual politics", while the PTI struggled for more than two decades to get to where it is today. "They cannot defeat us."
"Nawaz became the chief minister through General Jilani; Shahbaz, who used to give bribes to get his work done, has now become; Zardari became the president by 'showing' a fake paper; Fazl has been selling the religion from the last 30 years," he said.
PM Imran Khan said the Opposition leaders were under the "false impression that the people had forgotten their corruption", but they were wrong as now, they had fallen into the "captain's trap".
"I predict that not only is their no-confidence motion going to fail, but they will taste defeat in the 2023 general elections as well," he said, foreseeing his party's triumph in the polls.
Moving on to praise overseas Pakistanis, he thanked them for supporting the country and sending a record remittance through which the state was running its economic affairs.
"But when overseas Pakistanis, who are working hard abroad, see these corrupt politicians enjoying parties and living in palaces in foreign countries, they are hurt," he lamented.
PM Imran Khan said due to the corruption of the politicians, the country had become a "slave" to the foreign powers. "When our then prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] met then US president Barack Obama, his legs were shaking as he was cautious against saying something his 'master' might feel bad about."
"Because they know [those countries] can catch their [corrupt Pakistani politicians'] money laundering whenever they want," the prime minister said.
As a result of having corrupt leaders, the prime minister said that Pakistan faced drone attacks during the tenure of the previous governments — resulting in the loss of lives and capital.
Speaking about the army, he said the Pakistani military was the reason behind the country's stability, as he gave an example of other Muslim countries — Libya, Syria, and Yemen — where the situation was dismal.
Pm said he may have differences with former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto over his policies but he admired him because he always served the country in a dignified manner and it was due to his dignity that Pakistanis feel proud of him. He said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hosted the OIC leaders summit in Pakistan and United the Muslim countries under its banner.
Prime Minister Imran Khan challenged media organisations, economists and opposition parties to debate with the government over its performance in the last 3.5 years, saying that "nobody served Pakistan like we did".
Addressing the Pakistan Overseas Convention in Islamabad, he said the opposition parties had been taking turns in governing Pakistan during the last 30 years but the PTI government would "prove" that it had built the nation.
"Fazlur Rehman sold religion for 30 years," he thundered. "In my 3.5 years, Putin has said you cannot disrespect Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in the name of freedom of expression. Trudeau has given a statement [against Islamophobia]. This has happened for the first time."
The premier said there had been a debate at the United Nations and a resolution would be passed against Islamophobia, adding that it was "because of us" and how the government raised the matter at different forums.
Addressing overseas Pakistanis, he said he was aware of their difficulties and contributions, adding that they were also "pained" when they see their country is not progressing and its leaders are instead looting money and building palaces in London.
Prime Minister Imran then again criticised the opposition, alleging that they were afraid of angering the West and losing their looted money the same way that Russian oligarchs were — referring to sanctions imposed by Western countries on assets of Russian citizens following the invasion of Ukraine.
"You saw the Pakistani prime minister sitting before Obama and kanpain taang rahi hain. They are afraid of angering the West ... because they know those countries can catch their money laundering whenever they want."
The premier said 100 drone strikes had been conducted in Pakistan during the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari and PTI leaders had staged sit-ins to protest but "they had no shame".
"You (Nawaz and Zardari) should have at least said that no law in the world allows anyone to play the role of judge, jury and executioner," he said, stressing "never have I been anti-America, anti-Britain, anti-India".
Only an uneducated man would be against a country, he elaborated, adding that he was against their policies. "I was against the war on terror from day one and I will remain so."
The prime minister lamented that the Western nations had double standards as they do not allow people to become the judge, jury, and executioners in their homeland.
He also mentioned India's "Hindutva" policy, expressing the wish that a "better government" comes to power in the neighbouring country that would grant rights to Kashmiris.