PM Imran vows not to resign 'at any cost'

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday expressed his resolve not to cave into pressure from his political nemesis Maulana Fazlur Rehman who intends to mount "Azadi March" on Islamabad later this month.

In a meeting with senior journalists and analysts, which lasted for over an hour, the prime minister expressed his views about the JUI-F's threat of launching protest, issues of  inflation, unemployment and foreign policy.

Also read: Govt to allow JUI-F to hold Azadi March: spokesman

The prime minister sees a conspiracy behind Maulana Fazl's protest which he said is driven by a certain agenda. 

"There is no question of my resignation and I will not resign. Dharna is agenda based, and it has foreign support," senior journalist Irshad Bhatti quoted the prime minister as saying. 

The prime minister was of the view that the JUI-F's plan to protest has sent a wave of joy in India.

“I don’t understand what Maulana’s problem is,” he was quoted as saying in the meeting. “I don’t understand the agenda of the opposition.”

He acknowledged that inflation and unemployment remain a big problem which his government is trying to resolve.

When his attention was drawn towards the opposition's stance that the PTI had also staged a sit-in, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his dharna was not staged for nothing. 

Also read: JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman says Azadi March neither sit-in nor lockdown

He said he had proofs of election rigging in four constituencies when he had staged the sit-in at D-Chowk.

Asked about media restrictions on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he said there was no ban on broadcasting JUI-F Ameer's interviews or press conferences.