PDM vilifying institutions to save looted wealth: govt.

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE -- Government ministers on SunAday said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders were criticising national institutions to save their wealth earned through corruption, but Prime Minister Imran Khan would never give them the National Reconciliation Ordinance-type concessions.

Reacting to speeches made by opposition leaders at a public meeting held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to observe the 13th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, they said the government was ready to hold talks with the opposition, but threats of march on Islamabad and toppling the government won't work.

One of the ministers said the government was ready to hold negotiations with the opposition and talks could be held on all important issues in the parliament, but Prime Minister Khan would never give it (the opposition) an NRO-style concessions.

Responding to PDM leaders' warning of staging the long march on Islamabad if the prime minister did not step down, the ministers said the opposition would fail to topple the government.

Opposition urged to grab opportunity of national dialogue offered by government

'By bashing state institutions, opposition leaders have proved that they can go to any extent to save their looted wealth, but they cannot blackmail Prime Minister Imran Khan,' federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz said.

He said whatever pressure the opposition parties exerted on Mr Khan for their lust for power, they would never come to power again.

'They are free to stage long march towards Islamabad, but they will fail,' the minister said.

Mr Faraz claimed that PPP lawmakers would not tender their resignations and the PML-N would be deceived on the issue.

'Maryam will not get resignations of PPP lawmakers,' the minister said.

He said the PDM wanted to remove an elected and democratic government through un-democratic ways, but 'disappointment will be your (opposition's) destiny', he said.

The minister said that souls of former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto would be in pain now as the worst opponents of their philosophy were sitting in their house in Larkana.

He said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had acted as a facilitator in the hanging of former prime minister Z.A. Bhutto.

'Those, who used to criticise each other in the past and announced dragging each other on the roads of Lahore and Larkana, have now become each other's guests,' Mr Faraz said.

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