- Says PML-N starts preparations for general elections, tickets distribution soon
- Claims had PDM dissolved assemblies, Pakistan would have defaulted 14 months ago
SIALKOT: Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday declared that assemblies will be dissolution in August upon completion of their constitutional tenure, saying preparations for general election have commenced and distribution of tickets will be started soon.
Speaking at a worker’s convention in Sialkot on Sunday, Kh Asif said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) keeping in view dissolution of assemblies in August has started preparations for the general elections.
The federal minister said that PML-N-led PMD coalition government had the choice to dissolve assemblies immediately but it would have deepened the economic crisis and Pakistan would have defaulted 14 months ago.
He revealed that the reason behind the ouster of the former prime minister and PTI chief through no-confidence motion was their attitude toward allies – they turned their back to their allies.
The defence minister lambasted the PTI chairman, saying that he dissolved the KP and Punjab assemblies despite disagreement among the party leaders. The PTI chief planned the May 9 violence and it will be a black day in the history of Pakistan.
The federal minister said that the PTI chief made so many mistakes that in his depression he made a plan for May 9,” he said. “No one has ever thought in the history of the country of carrying out such attacks on the army installations. It was a dark day in the national history that challenged the state,” he added.
Kh Asif said the PTI played the role of the enemy by attacking martyrs’ memorials and risking lives of law enforcement personnel. “This person (Imran Khan) challenged the defense institutions; he would have to pay for it so that if anyone had the misconception that our defense institutions could be challenged, it should be removed. The nation stands behind the guarantor of national defense, he added.
The minister said the PDM took over the government in difficult circumstances. He said the PDM-led government had the choice to dissolve assemblies immediately after gaining power, but it would have deepened the economic crisis and Pakistan would have defaulted 14 months ago. “If the assembly was dissolved, the flow of IMF funds and other aid would have stopped and the country would have defaulted,” he added.
He said after 14 months of struggle, “we saved the country from default and that is why the country is gradually improving.”
Kh Asif said: “I have not seen any worker of any party absconding the way PTI leaders absconded. But now all fugitives were sitting in the zoom meeting of the IMF,” he added. He said that thousands of rupees of electricity, gas and taxes were stolen. If that theft had continued, the country could never have become economically stable.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) unveiled its strategy for upcoming general elections and political alliance.
PML-N leader and Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said in a statement that his political party would not get into an alliance with any political party for the upcoming general elections.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former federal minister Muhammad Zubair said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not in a position to contest elections. He said that PTI is not in a position to contest elections irrespective of its chairman’s disqualification.
