— Says speculation regarding elections ‘should end now’
— Clarifies caretaker govt has ‘no intentions to prolong its tenure’
ISLAMABAD: As a counter-measure to President Dr Arif Alvi’s plan to announce a date for general election, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would decide about the date for the upcoming elections.
The prime minister, in an interview with a private television, said the Parliament had passed a law according to which the ECP had the power to announce the date for new elections.
Speculations regarding the elections should end which would be held according to the prevalent law, he said, adding, “We have no intention to prolong the tenure of the caretaker government”.
He said as a student of the history of Pakistan, he would express gratitude to the Quaid-e-Azam for protecting rights of the Muslim minority and saving it from the domination of majority.
After seeing the attitude of bigger states against the minorities, he said, he could see that it would have been difficult to protect the religious and cultural identity of the Muslims if the Quaid had not secured an independent state for the Muslims.
He said he admired the Quaid-e-Azam for his constitutionalism, all-inclusiveness and for protection of rights of minorities.
The prime minister assured that action against smuggling would continue and the writ of the state would be established.
“We are taking these actions so that the new government with its mandate can easily continue our work for public interest.”
He said the Apex Committee of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) included current military leadership, thus making the Council a strong constitutional and legal body which was taking firm actions and implementing decisions.
The caretaker federal and provincial governments had good coordination which was helpful in implementing decisions, he noted.
He said the SIFC was focusing on economic revival and on sectors of agriculture and mineral extraction. However, work would be done on major plans of investment so that they could be at an advanced stage when the next government would take over, he added.
PM Kakar said Pakistan had multifaceted relations with Afghanistan and had regular discussions with it on issues of trade, terrorism, security and regional connectivity.
Both sides were talking with the realization that neighbours could not be changed, he added.
To a question about rising incidents of terrorism in the country, he said the terrorists had now more latest weapons, night vision goggles and other equipment which had increased their capacity to fight.
However, he made it clear that the terrorists could not take away an inch of territory of Pakistan and the security forces would respond and manage the situation. The state would show its firmness against terrorists as in no condition anyone would be allowed to resort to violence, he stressed.
PM Kakar said there was no restriction on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for taking part in the elections.
Talking about the incidents of May 9, he said miscreants resorted to vandalism and arson, and the whole incidents were reported by the local and international media. The accused involved in the incidents would be dealt with according to the law of the land, he added.
He said Nawaz Sharif was a thrice elected prime minister and when he would come back to Pakistan he would be treated according to the law.
He clarified that he had no intention to start meetings with the leadership of political parties.
To a question about the foreign policy, he said Pakistan had good relations with all countries, adding China was on the verge of becoming the largest economy of the world and the Western world led by the United States was anxious about it and wanted to contain its influence.
Pakistan had adopted the policy of Look Africa to improve its relations with that continent which had a population of more than a billion people, he informed.
He said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman would visit Pakistan on a mutually agreed time when both sides would be ready to announce projects for investment.
Responding to a question, he said Kashmir was part of body, soul and collective memory of Pakistan and Kashmiris aligned themselves with Pakistan.
The PM said sports including cricket should not be politicized and the issues concerning cricket with India should only be raised by officials of the cricket board.
“We are making Pakistan a secure country for sports. But we cannot force a country to play in Pakistan,” he commented.
He said he met with vice chancellors of universities in a meeting during his visit to Quetta and now he would meet with officials of the Higher Education Commission to resolve issues facing the education sector with a focused attention.
He said the government would soon decide about the issue of giving relief to the electricity consumers.
