ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Thursday that the government was not going anywhere and would stand its ground.
Responding to questions outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he said some elements had been trying to dislodge the government for the last three and a half years, but it “stands its ground”.
“The present government is engaged in progress and development and no one can prevent it from bringing about real change. The court has given us time till Monday to file replies, indicating that it will constitute a one-man commission to investigate the matter and will decide the case as early as possible,” he said.
The minister said that they also wanted to take the country out of crises. “That is why we presented ourselves before the court for accountability. We respect the court and will accept the verdict. People should wait for the decision instead of taking to the roads and making life difficult for the common people,” he said.
Asif said that the court was the only umpire. “We are standing outside [the court] for its verdict,” he said.
Referring to Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s remarks, he said that the ruling party did not get money from shrines. “We face the music at the frontline with our common workers, instead of doing push ups in front of the media,” he said.
Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that Imran Khan was suffering from “Khawaja phobia”. “The PTI chairman should remain peaceful and allow people to fulfill their responsibilities. The case is before the court. Let the court decide of the matter,” he said.
He advised Imran Khan to go to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and serve the people instead of leading them into protests.
