Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi has said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s statement regarding illegal Afghan refugees’ deportation seemed an attempt to gain sympathy of outlawed TTP and the Afghan Taliban government.

“The Afghan Taliban government and outlawed TTP reacted strongly over Pakistan’s announcement of one-document policy. He is trying to gain their sympathy and take advantage for his party in the polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Bolchistan,” he told Shaukat Piracha on Sunday in an exclusive interview on Rubaroo.

Solangi recalled a press conference by Moeed Yousaf, the national security adviser in Khan’s government, in which he said that illegal Afghan refugees cannot live in Pakistan and they would deport them forcefully.

On general elections, he said that the political leaders blame game and accusations against each other was proving the government’s points that it was part of electoral campaign and that elections will be held on time.

“The Election Commission will announce the election schedule before December 16 and general polls will be held on February 8, 2024,” he added.

On a presidential reference against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence, he said that the caretaker government will provide all the evidences to the courts.

“In hindsight, a lot of irregularities are seen in this case. The case was put before the high court to bypass the appellate court. It was a session court case. It was also well-established that the judge in the case had personal bias towards Bhutto,” he added.

However, Solangi said that he will not pre-judge the case as the Supreme Court had taken it up.

On facilities provided to former prime minister Imran Khan, he said that it was the law to provide certain facilities to former PM according to jail manual.

“The A, B Class jail facility is part of the law,” he added.