Pakistani minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed on Saturday that many would prefer the incarceration of former PM Imran Khan till 2029 to ensure ‘economic stability’. The Federal Planning and Development Minister also insisted that the PTI would have to ‘show seriousness’ if Imran Khan wanted to hold dialogue with the government. The development came even as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder said that there was “no point in negotiating with a government that lacks authority”.
“People come to us and tell us if Pakistan has to progress then Imran Khan will have to be kept in jail for five years,” Iqbal told reporters.
The senior Pakistan Muslim League (N) leade said that the country needed continuity of government policies at this time. Khan's release, he opined, could release could lead to renewed protests and unrest which the country could not afford. He argued that meaningful dialogue with the PTI cannot occur while the party simultaneously engaged in campaigns against state institutions.
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The remarks prompted a sharp rebuttal from Fawad Chaudhry — a minister in the previous government led by Khan — who said that Iqbal has revealed his government’s political and economic strategy was to keep the PTI chief in jail. Chaudhry said that it was clear that the government itself believed that it could only rule by the stick and had no standing among the people of Pakistan.
Iqbal responded to Chaudhry’s statement on X, saying that it was not the government’s strategy but the voice of the people. He added that Khan had ruled the country for four years but had nothing but soup kitchens to show for it.
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(With inputs from agencies)
