In front of thousands of supporters in Islamabad on Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called the opposition parties’ attempt to oust him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government a “foreign-funded conspiracy.”
He accused the opposition leaders of organising the trust vote to secure a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which would provide them with immunity from legal action for corruption and money laundering. “Developing nations go weak because they do not catch white-collar crime and give them NRO,” he added. Calling the opposition leaders the “three stooges,” Khan accused Asif Ali Zardari, Shahbaz Sharif, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of using the trust vote to “blackmail” him into granting them immunity.
"Bangladesh went ahead of us", Pakistan PM Imran Khan at a rally in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/rQjTPsmd9a
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 27, 2022
Khan made the accusations during a two-hour-long “power show” titled Amr Bil Maroof, meaning “Enjoin the Good,” that was attended by PTI supporters from across the country.
Train Of PTI Workers From Karachi Reached Lahore. #IamImranKhan pic.twitter.com/VP0SKYYUUh
— Hamza Khan (@HamxaTweets) March 27, 2022
During his speech, PM Khan highlighted his government’s achievements and thanked his supporters for participating in the programme. He also expressed his gratitude to his “team of parliamentarians,” who he claimed refused bribes to leave the party. In fact, he has previously claimed that PTI members and coalition lawmakers have been offered up to $1 million to defect from the ruling party.
Recalling the successes of his government, Khan said, “I challenge that no government gave a performance like we did in our three and a half years,” adding that despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has refrained from blocking its borders, which he claimed “helped save the economy.” He also cited a World Bank report that highlighted that poverty in Pakistan is “minimal.” In addition, he said that Pakistan’s growth rate is over 6%, a fact he claimed has “stunned” both the opposition and the international community.
He added that exports reached a “historic high” over the past three years, while also celebrating that the government has overseen “unprecedented” tax collection and crop harvests.
Towards the end of his address, PM Khan alleged, “Attempts are being made to influence our foreign policy from abroad,” and warned that the Pakistani people are “being used.” Waving a paper as proof before the gathered masses, he said that the government was “threatened in writing.” However, Khan said that he would refrain from publicising the details to “protect” national interests. He also hinted at greater strategic independence by saying that “times have changed,” asserting that while Pakistan will “have friendships with everyone,” it will not “accept anyone’s dictation.”
Prior to Khan’s speech, several other prominent PTI leaders also addressed the gathering. Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar declared that Khan was “waging a war” against the opposition, whom he accused of political manipulation through “ill-gotten money.” Furthermore, he downplayed the upcoming trust vote as a “petty thing.” “I want to tell the Prime Minister that he is the leader of the entire Muslim world and he will win this battle,” he declared.
Along these same lines, Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that he has communicated several “secrets” about the alleged opposition conspiracy to Khan. Additionally, he said that the huge crowd was proof that the citizenry stand in support of their PM.
While the PTI claims that the jalsa was attended by tens of thousands of people, the opposition has claimed that the venue only had the capacity to host 3,000 people. However, pictures and videos from the event appear to confirm the attendance of at least 10,000 people, if not more.
I think Imran Khan achieved his goal. Today's rally was meant to showcase strength & public support, less in advance of the no confidence vote & more in anticipation of the next election, whenever it is. His speech was a campaign pitch, and it will resonate with his support base.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) March 27, 2022
Huge PTI Jalsa in Kamalia today. Record setting for a small town. The nation is with Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/M4JS29xySg
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) March 26, 2022
Several opposition leaders have also rubbished the accusations made by Khan and other PTI leaders. Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said that there was no such conspiracy and that they had not received any foreign funding. In fact, she claimed that it was Khan’s “incompetence, corruption, and ego issues” that had caused his party members to leave his party. Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Secretary Faisal Kareem Kundi said that the address was a “farewell public meeting” hosted by “former” PM Khan.
Meanwhile, thousands of opposition and PTI supporters have gathered in Islamabad ahead of the National Assembly’s no-confidence vote against Khan, which is scheduled to be tabled before legislators on Monday. About 13,000 personnel from paramilitary forces have been deployed across the city to prevent any clashes.
The opposition, whose request requires Khan to gather the support of at least half of the NA, needs a simple majority of 172 to pass the motion. Sources within the opposition allege that they are confident of gaining the support of at least 202 members of national assembly (MNA) as several members from the ruling coalition government have defected.