This time PM Imran is under fire due to the dual national cabinet members. As an opposition leader, he had vehemently opposed the inclusion of dual or foreign nationals into the cabinet, but it seems the PM considers himself as an exception.
According to a Cabinet Division’s notification, out of 19 non-elected cabinet members, four special assistants to the prime minister (SAPMs) hold dual nationalities, including SAPM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar (US), SAPM on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari (United Kingdom), SAPM on Power Division Shahzad Qasim (US) and SAPM on Digital Pakistan Tania S. Aidrus (Canada).
After the lists came up, Imran was reminded of what he said a few years ago. According to the PM, the dual nationals swore an oath of allegiance to other countries and that they shouldn't be allowed in parliament. He had said if someone wanted to serve Pakistan, they should sell their overseas assets and come back to the country.
The IMF Deal:
PM Imran Khan also opposed the bailout from the International Monetary Fund. He said he preferred death over a begging bowl. However, not only he opted for an IMF loan, his rivals allege that the economy was being run on the directives by the Fund.
Empty NAB Promises:
Before coming to power, Imran Khan said he would strengthen national institutions, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). “We have to strengthen the institutions of Pakistan for merit to prevail and make them transparent and free of the political interference,” he had said in 2017 address at Malakand University.
However, under the current government, NAB is being accused of arresting opposition politicians under pressure-- a fact recorded in court verdicts as well. A judgement by the Supreme Court read that NAB was being used to arm-twist opponents.
Extension Given To Army Chief:
Imran as a politician had always opposed the extension to army chiefs, saying such decisions weakened the institutions. He had also criticised the PPP government for granting an extension to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani. However, Gen Bajwa was allowed extension by the Imran-led PTI government.
'Minister Should Quit In Case Of Accidents':
Prime Minister Imran Khan said a railways minister was responsible in a case of train crash and demanded resignation. “All over the world, just on an incident of railway accidents, minister resigns. This is real democracy, says Imran Khan [sic],” a tweet from August 2014 stated. It had come as Imran demanded Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and then railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s resignation.
However, his own minister for railways has failed to give in his resignation even though there were numerous crashes during his tenure as the minister, including the crash that had claimed over 70 lives in Oct 2019.