Replying to questions of media persons, Shibli Faraz emphatically rejected the possibility of any 'minus-one formula', saying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its allies stood firm behind Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said the opposition leaders were spreading lies and disinformation to malign the prime minister, as they were not at ease with his presence at the office. At the time when Prime Minister Imran Khan was making effort to introduce a system of punishment and reward, the opposition parties, which had ruined the state institutions, including the Pakistan International Airlines and the Pakistan Steel Mills, while in power, were trying to create uncertainty and confusion in the country.

He said the PTI existed because of Imran Khan. It was a ridiculous act of the opposition parties, which had ruled the country for 20 to 30 years, were trying to hold the incumbent government accountable for its 20-month rule, he added.

He said both the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had stuffed their cronies in the state institutions for political gains in total disregard for merit and transparency. 	Referring to plundering of billions of rupees and the Surrey Palace, he said those who once rode on scooters, now owned such palaces.

To a question regarding the PIA pilots issue, the minister maintained the due course was being followed as well as the law so that such issues did not crop up again in future. The decisions in that regard would be made strictly in line with the law, as those after having been charge-sheeted or suspended, had the option to approach courts.

Pakistan, he pointed out, was faced with a difficult situation, besides the spread of coronavirus, but the opposition had its own self-serving agenda, instead of cooperating with the government and coming up with proposals to deal with the deadly virus and how to improve the national economy.

If today, Imran Khan gave an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to seven or eight persons, he would be the best leader for them, he added.

Referring to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he said one could not become a leader due to political inheritance and asked what political struggle he (Bilawal) had made while Imran Khan had made a struggle for the last 20 years and knew how the poor people lived and what were their issues.

Bilawal's father (Asif Zardari), he said, first hid behind presidential immunity and then behind the COVID-19 to save himself from accountability for his corruption.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was totally different from the PPP and PML-N leadership as he had no business or corporate interests.867

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan