PM’s remarks caught Imran unawares
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif put Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in an awkward situation when the latter was shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Parliament House on Tuesday.
After addressing the joint sitting of parliament, President Xi accompanied by Prime Minister Sharif walked to parliamentarians in the front row. When Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was introducing the PTI chief, Prime Minister Sharif asked him in Urdu to also inform the Chinese president that he could not come to Pakistan four months ago because of this gentleman (Imran Khan).
Read: Xi Jinping’s visit
A source present on the occasion quoted the prime minister as saying: “Inn ko yeh bhi batayen keh Khan Sahib ki wajah se yeh (Chinese president) chaar maheenay pehlay naheen aa sakay.”
The remarks made by the prime minister, according to the source, caught Imran Khan unawares and the PTI chief was heard complaining to his party colleagues about the PM’s ‘verbal attack’.
But PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Dawn that the exchange took place in a lighter vein. “When the PM made the quip to the Chinese president, Imran Khan responded that the issues that existed in the past had been settled now,” he said.
A visit by President Xi, scheduled for September last year, was cancelled because of a political deadlock in the country at the time as a result of protest sit-ins held by the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek outside the Parliament House against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and killing of PAT workers in Lahore.
President Xi was again expected to visit on March 23 to attend the Pakistan Day parade but he could not do so because of some engagements back home.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015
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Comments (80) Closed
Apr 22, 2015 06:52am
I hope PTI learns that dharna politics is dangerous for national economy in addition to disturbing common man's life !!!!!
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Apr 22, 2015 07:07am
@Riaz - Government and the civil servants are becoming more accountable - that is because of Dharna. Public awareness is at its peak, people are speaking up instead of succumbing to status qou by previous and succeeding governments. It seems apparently that nothing was accomplished by PTI, however, reality is different. Thank you IK, ignore the cheap shot by the PM.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:24am
What even NS looks witty in IK's presence wow!
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Apr 22, 2015 07:27am
@Riaz - So, you would instead prefer politics of corruption that takes away everything from poor people?
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Apr 22, 2015 07:35am
Why so juvenile NS?
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Apr 22, 2015 07:38am
Such an act is not worthy of a country's prime minister.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:41am
@Riaz What other options are available to reform the fraudulent electoral process?
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Apr 22, 2015 07:45am
I hope NS learns to keep national interest in front of his animosity.
Chinese president postponed his visit multiple times after dharna was ended
NS will never play fair game
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Apr 22, 2015 07:46am
mr. khan is a real opportunist, not a politician....
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Apr 22, 2015 07:48am
Very intelligent man , Nawaz is, unlike IK , only good for cricket.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:49am
I think PTI's Dharna has brought up positive changes as PMLN seems to be working harder for its survival. If these so called projects are completed and are brought to the use of Pakistani people, PMLN will most definitely win another election.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:50am
Be clear 40 bill is a loan not a grant !
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Apr 22, 2015 07:50am
@Riaz do not agree...lato keh bhoot bato se kahan mante hain...
Pakistan needs a complete overhaul of its non-military institutions at least...at the moment none are working as they should...there is no policy and no revival of (whether it is manufacturing, agriculture, education, health, PIA, sports, tourism, load-shading issues etc...) placing Pakistan back to her glory days. We shall ask to each federal minister of what they have done (compared to their pledges in the elections) to the betterment of country since taking charge and what their policies are.
The only positive is a progress on security front, which is more to do with the Gen Raheel than PM Nawaz.
China is doing business with Pakistan and Pakistan needs to make its institutions workings as they should in order to get the gain of Investments, otherwise all will go in-vain.
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Apr 22, 2015 07:56am
Imran Khan was offended by the verbal attack because he has a monopoly over any form of verbal warfare.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:02am
Childish attitude of the Prime Minister!!!
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Apr 22, 2015 08:04am
Though Sharif should not have been bringing the local squabbles at the time of the visit, it is also a lesson for Pakistani politicians, like Imran, that there is a right way to do politics.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:05am
Falling apart!.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:08am
Nawaz and diplomatic demeanor is poles apart.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:09am
PM is cheapo!!! were there any doubts?
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Apr 22, 2015 08:10am
Good sense of humour by sharif!!!
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Apr 22, 2015 08:11am
Is this type of comment from PM to a colleague in presence of a foreign dignitary is necessary?
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Apr 22, 2015 08:21am
@Riaz you mean the govt can do whatever it want and no one should protest ..The govt didnt want to investigate the rigging allegation and u think every one should have kept quite ..will u support the same argument if next year another party comes to govt with massive rigging and then asks everyone to let govt do its job ..what nonsense r some people talking about
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Apr 22, 2015 08:21am
@Riaz You are right, but rigging in the election is more dangerous for the country and economy. We are far behind from China due to this rigging and corrupt practices.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:26am
Khan was claiming in those days that Chinese president is not coming and or China is giving Pakistan all these loans at a higher interest rate ... After all he wants to make a new Pakistan based on truth.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:31am
@Riaz and what could pmln have learnt? Nothing.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:36am
This is how the PM of the country behaves in public. We can well imagine what he will be doing behind the scenes. Did the PM also tell the Chinese premier that the speaker of the house won the election fraudulently and is under investigation by a judicial commission?
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Apr 22, 2015 08:38am
I am sure IK will respond to this one on right time ..PM Beware
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Apr 22, 2015 08:38am
@Riaz There is a judicial commission headed by the judges of the SC investigating the legality of the elections and the current government. So first things first. As for the investment, China is making an investment in Pakistan and its people, not the government of NS.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:39am
If Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did indeed made these remarks (even if in a lighter vein and even if for a moment we assume them to be the reason for the 'delay' in the visit of the honourable Chinese president), such a comment is more embarrassing to the esteem office of the prime minister than anyone else.
Moreover, any such remark reflect political bitterness at home, which does not convey a good impression to the visiting dignitary. A prime minister should avoid such high school-level remarks and leave it to the more young and innocent members of his cabinet.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:45am
protests are part of any good democracy, it was the government who was looking weak dueto protests which happens every where. if Pmln accepted the demand now, they should have accepted it earlier as well 4 months ago no wastage of time.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:49am
Nawaz Sharif should remember that time always changes, there was a time when he could be executed and Saudi Arabia intervened and saved his life.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:51am
@Riaz And standing by the status quo of rigged elections is even more dangerous for the country
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Apr 22, 2015 08:55am
Imran Khan's antics were anti-Pakistan, nothing more.
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Apr 22, 2015 08:57am
PM Childish harkat...
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Apr 22, 2015 08:59am
Very cheap behavior by a PM. Imran represents a large number of people and these are internal matters.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:01am
May God help this nation: big things in the hands of small people! Where will that lead us?
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Apr 22, 2015 09:01am
It seems that day by day PTI is becoming a laughing stock. I hope they learn from their mistakes. There is a time and place to protest and protesting on a container in front of the parliament during an important foreign dignitaries' visit is neither the time nor the place.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:09am
Hahahaha good one.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:13am
There is a saying that small minds discuss people.
Cheap remarks by the PM! The Chinese president did not come to find out who delayed his visit as if he had nothing to do at that time.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:18am
Imran has shown his first glimpse of politics. Has sat out whole year but with an eye on future and role China is likely to play, it was must he was seen inside the parliament rather than out in Dharna shouting abuse at the Chinese premier from D Chowk. Well done Imran.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:22am
It was good from Nawaz to mention it and only the truth. He should have also mentioned that the container man ridiculed the chinese as well at the time.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:23am
I have respect for Nawaz, but will not support as he doesn't think of anyone outside Punjab and his family
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Apr 22, 2015 09:29am
It was better for NS to have introduced IK as political leader, who wants to imitate Long March Chinese formula, on changing Pak politically.
But, NS introduced him as another Street Leader, instead equivalent of Sheikh Rasheed stature.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:36am
Finally, the then dharna by IK quoted by PM as an abysmal act...
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Apr 22, 2015 09:50am
This was in no lighter vein. It was in very bad taste in front of a foreign dignitary, a President.
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Apr 22, 2015 09:53am
PM cant count .. Chinese head of state was not scheduled to come four months earlier ... he was requested for Mar 23 and before that it was September 2014
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Apr 22, 2015 09:59am
@Riaz
Dharna was dangerous for the common man? That's why he was getting petrol during those days 24/7 and right after it ended, petrol went out of the market for 7 days too right? That's why loadshedding increased IMMEDIATELY after dharna ended, right? You noonis astound me everyday.
Pathetic display by a pathetic PM.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:00am
@harmony ...they both are good for nothing... what are their achievements
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Apr 22, 2015 10:02am
Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what political fork you use.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:24am
four months before or after, Dhurna or No Dhurna. There is nothing for the poor people of Pakistan any time by any govt. Whole world will see what's gonna happen with all these plans and money.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:37am
@harmony
hows that intelligent?! It is nothing but shallow.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:38am
"Imran Khan responded that the issues that existed in the past had been settled now"
nobody gets it, how is the possible, he asked for resignation, there is no resignation, then IK joined again. I left him after that last four months, I knew he is just bluffing every time he comes at the top of his container. Thanks God.
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Apr 22, 2015 10:38am
If the remarks are true it is vengeful on part of PM
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Apr 22, 2015 11:02am
DAWN added another instant where IK remained in awkward position for the public of the country. Well done keep it up
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Apr 22, 2015 11:14am
Blame it on IK. If he had come few months ago, the country would have been prosperous. I think NS should say that since he himself delayed the judicial commission therefore he is the one who is culprit. He didn't want the world knew he was responsible for the massive rigging.
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Apr 22, 2015 11:15am
It has been months now since the dharna has ended. PM is now playing the blame game, the same tactics that PP used to shed off all liabilities
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Apr 22, 2015 11:16am
This comment was absolutely unnecessary. Nawaz behaved in a petty manner. Salams
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Apr 22, 2015 12:53pm
Surprised at the unprofessionalism of the PM.
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Apr 22, 2015 12:55pm
@Riaz so you want to bury your head in sand and hope the corruption problem goes away ..somebody has to stand up to this and I am glad IK did this even though I don't support Pti
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Apr 22, 2015 12:59pm
@TKHAN It was said on a lighter note. Please stop making everything a matter of life and death!
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Apr 22, 2015 01:11pm
@khanm Perhaps you forgot, he convinced Xi to invest 50b $ .
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Apr 22, 2015 02:05pm
You don't reveal the divisions in your house to outsiders. You just don't.
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Apr 22, 2015 02:18pm
I wish he had actually said it to the Chinese president and IK should have explained that he was protesting because the Pakistani PM had come in to power as a result of a rigged election.
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Apr 22, 2015 02:26pm
@Riaz Yes, dharna politics is dangerous, but instead of it being so for common man, its dangerous for the out of control, corrupt politicians, whose criminal and treacherous behaviour went unchecked and their total lack of apathy for the common man continued unnoticed.
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Apr 22, 2015 03:37pm
This shows the quality of a Pakistani politicians. Compare them to Mr. Jinnah and the comparison would put a Statesman against a Street Thug.
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Apr 22, 2015 04:37pm
Want Pakistan to gain respect globally? start putting the right men at the right place.
It is a shame for us that we have still not been able to get Imran Khan where he should be. Men of honour struggling and slaves of money ruling. Money is man made!!!!!!!
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Apr 22, 2015 05:59pm
So the chinese president doesnt know why he couldn't come last time and needs to be informed by someone else??
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Apr 22, 2015 07:28pm
A nice googly!
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Apr 22, 2015 07:44pm
@Satire Namaloom, lol. Well said.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:34am
@syed: yeah and Nawaz Sharif is a high example of sacrifice and selflessness.
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Apr 23, 2015 01:57am
@Riaz are you kidding me that if it wasn't for Imran khan than none of the transparency into rigging election would have ever come to justice .. still has a long way to go before we see anything positive happen in Pakistan but one could only hope !!
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Apr 23, 2015 08:46am
so far PTI has been vocal for man for job. Let us start with a small assignment for Mr. Khan get our Cricket back on the right track. If he is able to do so then you are our next PM for sure.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:04am
@Ozz yea we should go with an ego driven u-turn emperor called Imran khan. Whose entire political standing has been deflated by the ECP he criticized, without tangible evidence may I add
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Apr 23, 2015 10:47pm
it is time for both parties to bury the hatchet n work together for betterment of the common pakistani and is only possible when 70% budget is spent on education.javed iqbal wazir
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Apr 24, 2015 07:15am
An exercise of political immaturity exploited by some anti-national individuals of the patriotic Pakistan army.
The same political inexperience and immaturity that brought Imran to contest NA-246 and get publicly humiliated by Altaf Husain.
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Apr 24, 2015 07:58am
@last comment "Be clear 40 bill is a loan not a grant !" and at very high markup!
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Apr 24, 2015 09:47am
What Nawaz Sharif had said is undeniable truth same as the shining sun on the sky. Because of the mob take over of the Very Capital City of the Country and paralyzingly the administrative functions for such a long time, then forcefully breaking into the Capital TV Station, the Parliament Compound and other sensitive security outlets against all the norms of civility, decency, discipline and democracy it inflicted a severe blow to the rule of law and true democratic values. It also caused a great economic loss and ridiculed the Nation in the eyes of international community. It deeply hurt and shocked a large number of sincere but patriotic supporters and well wishers of the Dharna leaders including the then PTI President and one of most senior politicians of the Country Mr. jawed Hashmi. Those advocating for violent opposition should learn lesson from the fate of Muslim Countries now burning under the flames of violence, fratricidal and self destruction.
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Apr 24, 2015 06:46pm
Actually, I think Nawaz Sharif was making a little joke and Imran Khan should have left it at that. Come on! Sense of humour is a good thing!
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Apr 24, 2015 07:33pm
@Ex-PTI - the idea in politics is making progress one step at a time. it is not do or die my emotional countrymen. We need to understand a healthy opposition makes the in power works harder. IK is keeping a good and healthy check on all issues.
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Apr 26, 2015 06:48am
@Isa
Apart from many sleepless night the dharnas have given a jolt to NS from which he is yet recovering. He has understood he has to perform beyond Punjab and now PAT Tahir- ul Qadri is coming to give him more headache.
Hopefully there is no fourth time for him unless he manages to put a forth term in the constitution by amending it.
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