Assemblies will complete their term come what may, assures Khawaja Asif

Foreign minister says government completed 70 per cent of its agenda, will finish all problems by next year

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has said promises made by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif to the people are being fulfilled, and that ministers will complete their full term.

Addressing the media in London, Asif responded to National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayaz Sadiq's statement that he does not see the assembly completing its tenure.

"I have not spoken to the speaker [Ayaz Sadiq], but parliament has its own pressures, and general elections 2018 will take place as scheduled."



Speaking on the opposition and their strategic alliances, Asif added, "They have a right to form alliances, and speak in opposition to the government. But we [government] also know how to fend for ourselves."

He also added that government has completed 70 per cent of its agenda, and the rest of the issues will also be resolved soon. "The situation in Pakistan is stable currently," he said. "National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has its own process, and it tackles issues on its own."

Khursheed Shah responds to Ayaz Sadiq statement

The leader of opposition in the national assembly also responded to Sadiq’s statement, saying that the speaker had revealed inside news.

“He is more aware of the situation,” Pakistan People’s Party’s Khursheed Shah told media on Thursday. “We also think the situation is suspicious.”

Referring to a "political party's" call for early elections, Shah stressed that keeping in view new US policy on South Asia, Pakistan needs to carefully thread out next steps. “The world will not forgive us if state institutions are threatened or weakened.”

He urged all political parties to work together for democracy.

Ayaz Sadiq's statement to the a private TV channel

On Wednesday, Sadiq had said he did not see assemblies finishing term as “what’s happening now has never been witnessed before”.

“I am not an astrologer…I hope it [the National Assembly] completes its constitutional term but I don’t foresee it happening,” he told Aaj News when asked about the assembly completing its five-year tenure.



“I feel something is about to happen… things are drastically different from 2002 and 2008.”

He was referring to the continuing political saga in the country following the ‘botched’ Faizabad crackdown as well as the situation arising after the release of the Model Town inquiry report.