LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said that Islamabad would not be closed down but nation would see an end to politics of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on November 2.
He was talking to media after addressing and distributing laptops here at Government College University (GCU). He said that democratic system was fully in place in Pakistan and ballot was the only way to bring a positive ‘change’, citing Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) had secured enormous public mandate in all bye elections, which was again ample proof of their confidence over the PML-N leadership and its government.
“Those who lost people’s trust in elections time and again were now hell bent on grabbing powers forcefully”, he added. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not be held accountable on the basis of any of the Panama allegations leveled by the opponents, asserting that Imran Khan, who also owned offshore companies, must not become jury to take decision on his own and declare anyone unlawful on mere allegations. If the PTI had any solid evidence, it must present it in the court of law, he added.
He said that the prime minister always respected the judiciary and the Constitution, adding other political parties must show same spirit and let the court decide that matter. He said that the matter was subjudice, therefore the politics of the sit-in and protests tantamount to exerting undue pressure in this regard.
He said that attempts to cripple the government through force was not democracy but anarchy. The PTI must take its reservation on the floor of the parliament and wait for the Supreme Court verdict, he added. He said that elimination of energy crisis, restoration of peace and putting the country’s economy on strong footings was agenda of the PML-N.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the gift of nature that offered great opportunities for every sector of economy, as it would make Pakistan centre of trade and commerce in the region of three billion population, he said. The minister said that the government took up work in critical areas and sectors which were pressing challenges in 2013.
Three years ago, he said that the security situation was that terrorists were on the offensive. But today, the state is on the offensive and they (terrorists) are hiding and running to find refuge but they can’t find any refuge, he said.
So the country is much more secure today than it was three years ago, he said and adding “We will not rest until we make our country fully safe and secure in all respects”.
