KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his government is already in talks with the authorities in the United Kingdom and he himself will talk to his British counterpart Boris Johnson if needed to bring back Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif to the country.

In an interview with a private TV channel on Friday, he said that Nawaz Sharif, the convicted former prime minister who was allowed to fly to London for treatment late last year, had always enjoyed the support of establishment and courts. PM Imran said that he would also visit to the United Kingdom "if it is necessary for the repatriation of Nawaz Sharif". "We had asked the Lahore High Court to make Nawaz sign the indemnity bond. However, the court allowed him to travel abroad without having to sign the bond suggested by the federal government."

While talking about the recently constituted Pakistan Democratic Movement (PMD) by 11 opposition parties against the incumbent government, he said: "They [the opposition] know that I am not going to give them NRO, now they're putting pressure on armed forces."

The premier said that after the PML-N increased chaos in the country, he announced to "repatriate Nawaz Sharif himself".

"First they looted Pakistan, then to save their theft, they are trying to create chaos in the country," he said, adding, "The opposition's alliance to 'protect their corruption' will expose itself with each passing day."

He said that the opposition has been trying to blackmail him since the day he held the PM Office. "They thought economy will default and Imran Khan will leave, they even tried to cash in on Covid-19 as well."

Premier Imran said that both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz tried to "blackmail" him. "They used FATF bill as bargaining chip but when they failed, they are now trying to put pressure on army."

He also alleged that the opposition is working on the "agenda of India and Israel" and playing at the hands of enemies of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020