PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday the recent cabinet reshuffle was akin to a change in 'batting order', telling the media persons that former finance minister Asad Umar would re-join his team of ministers.



Talking to senior journalists at the Prime Minister's Office, Khan rejected as rumours the talk of presidential system in the country. He criticised the opposition for taking cover of democracy to "hide their corruption".



Khan, a former cricket captain, who never hesitated to take bold decisions in field, defended the cabinet reshuffle last month, using the cricket jargon. "The changing of ministers is only to change the batting order," the prime minister said.



About the induction of non-elected members in his cabinet, Khan insisted that his government would make use of all suitable individuals for the good of the country. "In the absence of experts, we are assigning technocrats," he said, adding that he has to show the performance of his government.



The reshuffle saw Asad Umar exiting the cabinet after he was removed from the finance ministry. At that time Umar had said that he resigned from the federal cabinet after turning down Khan's offer to head the energy ministry.



However, the prime minister on Friday said that Umar would be back in the cabinet. "Asad Umar is intelligent and he is precious [asset]. He will return to the cabinet soon," Khan said, without elaborating.



Khan criticised the opposition parties, saying that they were trying to get away with their corruption by using democracy as an excuse. However, he reiterated his resolve that he would not sign another national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) – a reference to the General Musharraf-era amnesty.



"The opposition wants NRO from the government," the prime minister said but added firmly that he would not sign any NRO even if he loses his seat. The people taking decisions about the NROs are those who wanted to save their power. I will not give any NRO," he said.



"In 2016, Chaudhry Nisar stated that Bilawal Bhutto [Zardari] and Ayyan Ali's bills were being paid from the same fake account. Are these cases initiated by me," asked the prime minister, while referring to the on-going accountability process.



He said that the opposition call their people to accountability courts to put pressure. "Why have they been unable to explain where the money for London flats came from," he asked. "The opposition would fall silent when the cases were closed," he added.



The prime minister rejected speculations regarding presidential system. Responding to another question, he said that he would attend the parliamentary session on Monday. However, he added that he felts "ashamed" by sitting in a parliament where the opposition used unsavoury language.



He said that what democracy was this where Shehbaz Sharif – who faces national accountability cases -- demands chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Saad Rafique – another opposition leader who also faces NAB cases – attends parliament after coming from jail.



Khan said that seven bills were being moved for the welfare of the people and expressed the hope that the opposition would support the bills. "If the opposition stands with us in passing these bills, it will be a good thing," he added.



He described the police and Kachehry [courts] had been the main concern of the common man in Pakistan, as 50 per cent of cases relate to land, while disposal of civil cases take even four decades under the prevailing laws.



Khan said the government had introduced revolutionary bills in the National Assembly on Thursday proposing reforms in civil procedures, whistle-blower protection commission and women property rights to serve the fundamental needs of the common man.



The Zainab Alert Bill and the one regarding corporal punishment would also be introduced in the parliament, the prime minister said, asking the media to support the government to get these "remarkable bills" sail through the parliament as the first step towards the reformation of the system.



He added that laws were being prepared in accordance with Quran. The prime minister quoted from prominent thirteenth-century poet and philosopher Maulana Jalaludin Rumi, saying that the nation is destroyed when it is morally dead.



Khan said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Faz (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman accused him of links to Jewish lobby on minor issues. He also told reporters that the head of a political party used derogatory language against chief justice. "The government wants all institutes to work without any obstacles."



He said that he did not pressurise any institution including NAB. Responding to yet another question related to fake news, Khan said that the issue of fake news prevailed all over the world. About the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the project was initially limited to roads and power plants but now agriculture and industries had been included into it.



When asked about his statement that the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement's (PTM) demands were legitimate but its conduct was wrong, and another statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) that the PTM was getting foreign funds, Khan replied that he received news from four to five sources.



Report received from different sources reveal that four to five groups are funded from outside," he said. He said that the former Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) had been merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had asked every province to provide it 3% of its share for its development.



Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Law Minister Firough Nasim, special assistants to prime minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Naeemul Haq and Yousuf Baig Mirza, and Adviser to Prime Minister Shahzad Arbab were also present on the occasion.