No-trust motion: PM Imran Khan says establishment gave him 'three options'

• PM Imran Khan says establishment gave him the option of a no-confidence motion, resignation or fresh election.
• Says he had an idea about the “game” being played against him in August.
• Says Usman Buzdar’s removal was a political understanding.
  

ISLAMABAD: As PM Imran Khan battles to save his office, he shared on Friday that the "establishment" gave him three options, including the no-confidence motion, resignation from his post, or fresh elections.

Speaking to a private news channel, PM Imran Khan said that he would "not resign from office despite losing the majority in the National Assembly."

The PM said that the Opposition would not be able to run the government with the people that have left him, adding that it would be better if early elections are held.

Coming on the no-confidence motion, the premier said that he will come up with "another surprise” on Sunday when the National Assembly meets to vote on the no-trust motion.

“A captain never shares his strategy but I reiterate that this [no-confidence motion] is a major international conspiracy,” PM Imran Khan maintained. 

Talking about the allegedly threatening memo, PM Imran Khan said that the “letter” sent by a foreign country had said that until he is in power, bilateral ties cannot move ahead.

Even though PM Imran did not share the name of the country in this conversation, he had an apparent "slip of the tongue" on Sunday during a televised address during which he had said it was the United States that had conspired against him.

“Our envoy was told that Imran Khan is unacceptable and should be removed. [He] was told that bilateral relations will be looked at after the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” said the premier.

PM Imran Khan said that the envoy was told that Russia’s visit was Imran Khan’s personal decision.

The PM also said that there was a "threat to his life because of the threatening memo."

The premier said that the contents of the letter were also shared in the National Security Committee meeting.

“I raised the matter at the right forum at the right time,” the premier maintained.

Had an idea about conspiracy in August: PM 

The premier told the journalists that he learned about the threat to his life and the “game” being played against him in August 2021.

“Planning was being done in London according to agencies' report,” said PM Imran, adding that he also has “all the reports” regarding which person visits which embassy.

“I have all the reports of politicians, journalists and anchorpersons who frequent different embassies. I knew of the conspiracy as I have all the reports,” the prime minister said. 

Taking a jibe at PML-N, the premier then said that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz "openly opposed the army."

"The PML-N supremo also started buying judges by offering them plots," he alleged. “Their aim is to come in power and abolish the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) so that they could get away with their wrongdoing,” claimed PM Imran. 

He added that once the PML-N comes to power, it would end the former premier’s lifetime disqualification and restore Nawaz.

“If I wanted to save my government, I would have given an NRO to the Opposition on the first day,” said PM Imran.

Taking a jibe at the opposition parties' tenures and their policy regarding the US drone attacks during the war on terror.

“If Imran Khan wins the no-confidence motion, then there will be difficulties. If Imran Khan loses, then Pakistan will be forgiven,” said PM Imran

Will never go against Army: PM Imran

The premier also told journalists that he would "never go against Pakistan Army, adding that he does not want the military to become controversial at any point.

“I will never speak against the army,” said PM Imran, adding that Pakistan needed a strong army for its survival. 

The premier said that had there never been a “strong army, then the country would have been divided into three parts”.

“We are safe because of our army,” said PM Imran.

My character will be defamed: PM Imran

PM Imran told the journalists that when the Opposition will come to power, they will try to defame his character.

“My wife does not leave the house, yet a campaign was initiated against her. There is a threat to my life and my character will be defamed,” PM Imran Khan foretold.

Buzdar’s removal a political understanding: PM

Talking about former chief minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar’s resignation, PM Imran said that he had decided to remove him following a “political understanding”.

Earlier today, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhamad Sarwar had accepted the resignation of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Meanwhile, following the acceptance of the resignation, the Punjab cabinet has also been dissolved. PM Imran had asked Buzdar to resign after he opted to nominate Pervaiz Elahi as his candidate for CM.