No clash of institutions: Ahsan Iqbal

Whosoever damages the stability and peace of Pakistan is the enemy of Pakistan, says interior minister


Our Correspondents October 29, 2017
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE/GUJRANWALA/NAROWAL: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said there is no clash among the institutions, but a troika consisting of some failed politicians, retired army officers and journalists wants to create conflict and misunderstanding between the army and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the country’s largest political party.

“They will not get anything but disappointment,” said the minister while talking to journalists in Narowal on Saturday.

“Whosoever damages the stability and peace of Pakistan is the enemy of Pakistan,” he said, adding, “Failed politicians know that if the 2018 elections are held on time, they will not even get scraps.”

“Retired civil and military officers want unconstitutional action so that they get ambassadorships,” he alleged.

Iqbal suggested that retired military officers should offer advice on how to strengthen the defence of the country “but unfortunately they only use TV time to comment antagonistically about the government. The same is the way of a brigade of journalists. They want the secret backdoor to open for them to come into power.”

Attempts to derail democracy will harm country: Ahsan Iqbal

He said Sheikh Rasheed, the Awami Muslim League chief, should stop insulting parliamentarians from South Punjab, adding that they are as loyal as anyone else. “Rasheed tells others about running in sneakers but we have seen him running barefoot.”

Later, addressing the international business conference and exhibition in Lahore, the interior minister said, “We are giving a message to the world that Pakistan is a stable democracy”.

He said elections would take place in 2018 on the stipulated time. “This will not only strengthen Pakistan but our image will also improve in the world,” he added.

Iqbal said that some people “give narratives on TV from 8pm to midnight that Pakistan has sunk, but just after midnight, the country returns to normalcy again”.

He said, “Pakistan of today is progressing and developing well… our economy is improving. Neither we are going to IMF nor are we facing any threat. Indexes are improving.”

He said the volume of debts is relative. Drawing a parallel, he said Pakistan’s is 61 per cent, while India’s is 70 per cent.

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“The loans are not spent on luxuries. They are used for construction of infrastructure. Investment is growing. The power crisis has ended, and the industry is moving towards upgrading. This is increasing our growth rate,” he added.

The minister said that the PML-N government took steps for peace “because it is important for the stability of the economy”.

He described the use of modern technology as “unavoidable for development”, suggesting that competition in the educational field could be brought in by introducing modern facilities.

“In 2013, no country was ready to invest in Pakistan, but today, Pakistan is producing encouraging results. China’s $46 billion investment is a show of confidence in Pakistan. Pakistan is attracting investors, and Gwadar will earn Pakistan a high status in international trade,” he predicted.

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