Prime Minister Imran Khan maintained his belligerent tone against political rivals - primarily PPP President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman - while reiterating his accusation that they were involved in plundering the nation's wealth and stashing assets abroad.

He said this while addressing a packed rally of supporters in Timergara, the district headquarters of Lower Dir, KP. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Senator Faisal Javed, Federal Minister Murad Saeed and KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also attened the public gathering and addressed supporters before the PM.

As the premier arrived on stage to address supporters, the area resounded with chants of "diesel" referring to PDM and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman.

"I was speaking to General Bajwa earlier today who asked me not to refer to Fazlur Rehman as 'Diesel'. Gen Bajwa, I am not calling him 'diesel' but that's what the people call him," he said.

Fixing institutions

Citing a recent statement by the JUI-F chief that he would fix institutions when he comes into power, the PM said that by instutions he meant the army.

"If Pakistan is surviving today, it is because we have a strong army," he said while criticsing Fazl. "You have ruined every institution that you have been a part of. How can you fix anything?"

He went on to say that Muslim countries including Somalia, Syria and Afghanistan are in crisis. "But Pakistan is safe because we have the most powerful army in the Muslim world,” he said.

Three stooges

As he is wont to do, PM Imran resorted to cricketing references against his political rivals, while also labelling the trio of Zardari, Shehbaz and Fazl as the three stooges.

He said that he grateful to the them for filing the no-confidence motion as it would allow him to dispel any misconceptions that the opposition might have. "I will take three wickets with an inswinging yorker," said the PM about his three rivals.

He went on to accuse them of destroying state institutions, attacking the courts in Pakistan and bribing judges and for involvement in yellow journalism.

He also claimed that the opposition has been seeking relief on corruption cases similar to the National Reconcilation Ordinance (NRO) of the past.

The premier said that the opposition was threatening to oust him from power unless corruption cases against them are dropped. "But I will not close the cases even if I have to give my life for it," he said, adding that he was waging jihad against corruption.