Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar revealed that PM Imran Khan makes all the decisions himself. He also decided to allow PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif to travel to London for medical treatment.
Asad Umar made the statement while talking to a private media channel. During the show, the talk turned to Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed’s earlier statements suggesting that PM Khan has the Establishment’s backing. To clarify, Sheikh Rasheed made a dig at the Opposition saying it wants the hand protecting Imran Khan.
“They [Opposition] want that the hand [protecting] PM Khan should be on their head as well,” Sheikh Rasheed said. “This hand can be on their [Opposition] neck but never on their head.”
Later, on a news program, Sheikh Rasheed also said that the Establishment and Imran Khan are on the same page. After this, there were speculations that this may negatively impact PTI’s supporters. Regarding this, Asad Umar said that Imran Khan receives a lot of criticism for not being political. However, he is the only political leader who has good relations with Pakistan’s institutions [judiciary and establishment] while making major decisions himself.
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The anchorperson asked whether or not PM Imran Khan also took the decision to send Nawaz Sharif abroad. The anchorperson also said that PM Khan held the judiciary responsible for allowing Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad.
نوازشریف کو بیرون ملک جانے دینے کا فیصلہ 100فیصد عمران خان کا تھا، وفاقی وزیر اسد عمر#GeoNews #NayaPakistan pic.twitter.com/R31a6bz41L
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) January 21, 2022
“It was 100 percent Imran Khan’s decision,” Asad Umar said. “Imran Khan never said that he did not make the decision. I was present in the room.”
However, Asad Umar clarified that it was not a unanimous decision as PTI members initially did raise concerns. Asad Umar also said that the decision was made on the basis of medical reports which turned out to be false.
Assessment of Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports
Since Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports turned out to be fake, on January 14, the Punjab government formed a special medical board to examine the medical reports of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who traveled to London in 2019 for medical treatment.
As per the latest updates, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid Thursday said that they received and assessed medical reports of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who apparently looks in good health. The medical board completed its review and sent a detailed report in this regard to the home ministry.
Read more: PML-N denies any deal for Nawaz Sharif’s return
“We have received Nawaz Sharif’s medical reports and had sent them to home ministry with a recommendation,” she said and added that the PML-N leader is in good health and has been seen roaming, eating and indulging in other activities.
She said that Nawaz left for London while citing his deteriorating health condition and the lifestyle being adopted by him currently does not reflect on his illness claims.