Imran cutting the same branch he’s sitting on: Saad

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan is playing with fire by biting the hand that feeds him.

Addressing a gathering on Yaum-e-Takbeer here on Sunday, the minister said the PTI chief is cutting the same branch he is sitting on. He criticised Imran Khan, saying that “some immature political players” were harming national politics and democracy.

Saad said Nawaz Sharif made Pakistan a nuclear state and now he had decided to do an 'economic blast' through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other ongoing projects. He said, "Without any proof, we were accused of money-laundering and commission. Now we will not remain silent on such abusive behaviour of the opposition.”

The senior PML-N leader said the opposition had been feeling the heat due to the ongoing development projects and started making PML-N leaders controversial through false and fake accusations. He said the government had done well so far.

SABAH adds: Saad Rafique said politicians should not take political disputes to courts. He said the sons of prime minister are doing business abroad for the last two decades adding that hundreds and thousands of Pakistanis are working abroad and are used to sending money to Pakistan.

He said it would not happen that the prime minister was mocked and the party workers kept silent. He said corrupt people could not bring about a change in the world. The minister said the PML-N had to go to the court in response to the allegations levelled against the party leaders.

Saad Rafique said Nawaz Sharif was not the first prime minister being punished for his acts in favour of Pakistan and the Pakistani people. He said it was known to all what was done with Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan and how Hussain

Shaheed Suharwardi was killed and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed as a result of fake court verdict. He said the court decision did not end the politics of Bhutto. He said some time Nawaz Sharif was sent in exile and some time Benazir Bhutto was sent in exile.

He said that it had become fashion in the country that the elected prime ministers were charged with different allegations. He asked what was done with Yusuf Raza Gilani? The new political players are harming the politics of the country, he alleged.

He said Nawaz Sharif faced the consequences of carrying out nuclear tests. He said plane hijacking case was registered and life imprisonment was awarded to Nawaz Sharif. He said Nawaz Sharif faced a long exile and the PML was divided and dictatorship was imposed in the country.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a gateway to new avenues of progress and prosperity for Pakistan. Saad Rafique said we have connected Pakistan with the One Road One Belt project of China.

Saad asked why war against terrorism was not fought prior to PML-N government adding that peace in Karachi has been restored. He said today civil and military leadership of Pakistan were united against terrorists and enemies of Pakistan.

He said the PML-N vote was intact. He said the visits of Asif Ali Zardari also benefit the PML-N. Saad Rafique invited all opponents to jointly work for the welfare of people. Saad Rafique asked Asif Zardari to also focus on Sindh.