“I’m the only option available right now,” sources quoted Prime Minister Imran Khan as telling his guests at a dinner he hosted on Sunday evening.

Talking to lawmakers of the ruling PTI and its allied parties, the prime minister said the PTI was an ideological party, he stood by its ideology and he would continue to do so. He said he deals with a new challenge every day. He said he would take every challenge head on and the government would be out of the prevailing difficult situation very soon. He said everything would be alright if he halts action against the mafias. He said that he could complete his five-year term without any trouble if he makes a compromise.

Talking to disgruntled elements within the ruling PTI after the dinner, the prime minister said the opposition was talking about dissolution of the government every day, but the government was not going anywhere. He said the PTI government would complete its tenure. He said that opposition parties, which had been in power for 30 years, were now criticising the PTI government.

The prime minister said the PTI was the only party, which could change the fate of Pakistan. He said he could not shake hands with those who pushed Pakistan to the brink of destruction. He said he had forecast a long time ago that all opposition parties would join hands against him when they would be in a difficult situation. He said that opposition parties did not join hands in the interest of people of Pakistan rather they joined hands to defend their corrupt practices.

Answering a question about a massive increase in the prices of petroleum products on June 26, the prime minister said that prices were increased after an increase in fuel prices in the international market. He said that even today Pakistan is selling fuel to its people at the lowest rates in the entire South Asian region.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser arrived at the dinner shortly before the event was going to conclude. He came with disgruntled lawmakers of his party. Prime Minister Imran Khan had a meeting with these disgruntled elements after the dinner.

Speaking to those in attendance at the dinner earlier, the prime minister said the PTI was passing through its struggle period and it was a tough time. He asked his party men and the coalition partners not to lose heart. He said the PTI government would complete its tenure and win the next term as well. He said fighting corruption was PTI’s ideology and it will fail the day it will stop fighting corruption. He said his government made reports on sugar, flour and fake pilot licences public.

He said he did not care for any mafia; he only cared for people. He said that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf stopped an inquiry report on sugar crisis from going public twice because he was under pressure. He said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) destroyed itself by losing track of its ideology. He said he was under pressure that he should not make sugar and PIA inquiry reports public, but he did.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said this year’s budget was made in the most difficult economic situation. He said the government presented a tax-free budget despite a difficult situation. He said the national kitty was empty when he came into power and then coronavirus attacked the country after the economy started improving. He said he was aware of parliamentarians’ problems. He said that governments have to make tough decisions in the worst of situations.