ISLAMABAD, :Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-
Haq Kakar said that it would not be in the caretaker government’s control if
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was legally barred from
elections by the courts, after exhausting all of his legal remedies.
“The fate of Imran Khan is not final (as yet). There are judicial remedies
available to him… And if all the options are utilised judicially, then yes,
there is a possibility that he may legally be barred from that process which
is beyond the control of the caretaker government,” the prime minister said
in an interview with BBC HARDtalk during his visit to London.
Also regarding Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif and
PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, he reiterated that if any individual was
barred from the elections, it would not be due to executive decision as that
could only be through judicial outcome.
He said that being the caretaker prime minister, he could not undo the
judicial outcomes. Asked whether Nawaz Sharif would be arrested on his
return from London, he said the law enforcement agencies would have to
deliberate whether he had protective bail or any other legal remedies
available.
In another interview with BBC Urdu, the prime minister said in the case of
Nawaz Sharif, the law should take its course as he went abroad on a court
order.
However, he said he did not foresee any agitative behaviour on Nawaz
Sharif’s arrest as instead of indulging in agitative politics, the PML-N
leadership would prefer to take part in the elections.
He told the interviewer that PTI as a political party was not barred from
participating in the elections.
“If an individual is charged with riots, vandalism, arson and instigating
people for violence, the laws of the land are there to counter this
behaviour,” he commented.
On a similar question by BBC Urdu, he assured that there would absolutely
be no harshness against PTI.
However, those found involved in violence would be dealt with as per law.
Such a people could be just 1500-2000 in numbers, out of 250 million
population.
The prime minister reiterated his government’s resolve to steer the country
out of prevailing challenging and difficult times and hold free and fair
elections.
“I am pretty much confident that upcoming elections will be free and fair. I
am confident that we will achieve all indicators of transparent elections,” he
remarked.
Rubbishing Imran Khan’s allegations against the military, he said the same
military worked hand in glove with PTI chief during his government and that
he used to famously take credit for hybrid arrangements.
To a question, the prime minister said Pakistan had lost over 90,000 lives
in the war against terrorism as the country had to take the mess on its own
after all including the NATO and ISF left the region.
He said Pakistan’s military and paramilitary forces were doing a “fantastic”
task of dealing with terrorism.
About the challenge of renewed attacks, he said those were due to the
added gadgetry left by US and UK after the drawdown.
He said the Afghan army of 300,000 was armed with the latest equipment
and after the withdrawal, those arms and equipment were sold in the black
market.
He said Pakistan was dealing with the TTP on its soil but their asylum in
Afghanistan was part of the problem.
About his government’s economic priorities, Prime Minister Kakar said they
had cracked down on illegal trade of currency and hoarding. The
government will also go for the privatization of state-owned entities like
Steel Mill, PIA and Power Discos.
He told the BBC Urdu that holding the elections within 90 days was the
Election Commission’s mandate; however, he cited Article 254 of the
Constitution saying that anything not done within the prescribed period was
not tantamount to being unconstitutional or illegal.
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