ISLAMABAD: Even though it could have been his last day in office, Prime Minister Imran Khan spent a hectic Saturday engaging with his constituency and promised to take legal action against the opposition and disgruntled members of his own party who may vote against him in today’s no-trust resolution.

“I met my lawyers [on Saturday] and we have a plan. We won’t let them go free. All of them will be punished. We will decide by [Saturday night] the kind of legal action we want to take against them,” PM Khan said during a live broadcast, amid reports that the government was considering the option of filing treason cases against some opposition leaders.

Later, speaking to members of his government during a dinner hosted at PM House, he said he was disappointed in those who had “sold their conscience”.

“They don’t know that these are not the days of Changa Manga, this is a different era. This is the era of social media, their faces are circulating on social media.” He alleged that politicians were being purchased like goats to topple the government.

Claiming that the country was at a “decisive point” in history he termed the vote on the no-trust resolution a “war for the country’s future”. He termed the protest by the youth akin to ‘jihad’.

“There are two routes we can take. Do we want to take the way of destruction or the path of pride? There will be difficulties, but this is the path of our Holy Prophet (PBUH),” he said.

Mr Khan also talked about the “neutrality” of the military establishment, stating that the army had decided to stay neutral as it did not want to be a part of any controversy.

“I have no issue with the army,” said Mr Khan, adding that the army had stated that “it wants to stay neutral and does not want to indulge in any controversy.” “The army has said it wants to stay neutral and we respect [the decision],” he added.

When asked by a caller to comment on the ‘fake news’ of him not getting along with the army, he said: “I want to tell you something about the army. Whoever attacks the army, they aren’t hurting the army, rather [they are hurting] Pakistan.

“We need this army. It has sacrificed for us. I don’t want you to criticise the army,” Calling for youth to come out and protest, the PM said: “I want all of you to lodge a protest. You all should raise your voice against this conspiracy. Not for me, but for your future. If this [conspiracy] succeeds then it will mean that if a foreign force doesn’t like the leadership of a country, if [the foreign force] doesn’t like a country’s prime minister, it can oust the government by spending 15 to 20 billion [rupees],” he said.

“This is your country and you will have to fight for it,” said the prime minister, but in the same breath asked the youth not to cause any damage to property.

“You don’t have to sit silently. If you stay quiet, you will be on the side of the bad. I want you to protest and speak up against this conspiracy — not for me but for your future,” said the premier.

“Don’t worry at all. A captain always has a plan, and this time I have more than one plan... God willing we will win tomorrow. I will defeat them in the Assembly,” he said.

PM Khan also suggested that he might not accept the vote to oust him, adds Reuters. “How can I accept the result when the entire process is discredited?” Mr Khan told a select group of foreign journalists at his office. “Democracy functions on moral authority — what moral authority is left after this connivance?” “The move to oust me is blatant interference in domestic politics by the United States,” he said, terming it an attempt at “regime change”.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2022