PM dares opposition to bring no-trust motion against him

Ridicules opposition’s ‘failed’ power show in Lahore; laments new precedent of cursing parliament

BHAKKAR/FAISALABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has challenged the opposition parties to move a no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly and dissolve their respective provincial assemblies, if they are prepared to face the people’s decision in the next elections.

“They [the opposition] threatened to dissolve provincial assemblies to impede Senate elections. I have a clear message for those who curse parliament to dissolve assemblies, if anyone can. The people will give their response in the election, in July 2018.

“This politics of falsehood, conspiracy and curse will be buried forever,”Abbasi said on Saturday while addressing the launching ceremony of the PM’s Health Insurance Card in Punjab’s Bhakkar district.



Criticising the opposition’s ‘failed’ power show in Lahore on Wednesday, the PM said they had set a new precedent of cursing parliament despite striving to become its member.

“Those who staged a circus at the Mall in Lahore will come to know what the politics is when they will approach people after dissolving the provincial assemblies. People have not voted them to dissolve assemblies but for resolving national and public issues,” he said.

He assured the gathering that the PML-N’s government would complete its term.

The prime minister also distributed health insurance cards that would allow people free medical treatment of up to Rs0.3 million from private hospitals. He said now the poor people would not have to take loans and sell out their belongings to support the medical treatment of their dear-ones.



“Around 1.5 million families are benefiting from the health card scheme which is the brainchild of former PM Nawaz Sharif, who aimed at providing the medical facility to the poor on a par with the rich,” he said, vowing that the scheme would be launched in every district and region of the country.

The PM, who earlier launched work on a bridge to connect Bhakkar with DI Khan and Punjab with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said the project would cost Rs7 billion and complete in 18 months to reduce the distance of hours to minutes.

He said during last 65 years, only 580 kilometres long motorway was constructed and that too by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government but during the last five years, the government had extended the motorways network to 1,700 kilometres, besides other roads spanning 5,000 kilometres.



“Projects have also been set up to generate more than the power generated in last 65 years,” he claimed.

Gas is also available to all the consumers without interruption, and the gas supply network is also being expanded, according to PM, who announced that work on gas supply to Kalllur Kot and Darya Khan areas would start soon.

“Despite all protests by the opposition, the government has not suspended its development agenda,” he said, adding that the PML-N voters would not have to feel embarrassed for voting the party to power yet again.

The PM announced naming the bridge after renowned politician late Zafarullah Khan. He also announced the establishment of Thal University in Bhakkar, besides approving the construction of three different roads in the area.



He announced a grant of Rs1 billion for the road and power projects in NA-73 and also assured development projects for nearby NA-74 during his visit of the constituency.

Opening ceremony

Abbasi on Saturday also inaugurated the expanded Faisalabad International Airport. Costing Rs 1.5 billion, the project has been completed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), expanding the covered area of the airport from 36,000 square feet to 73,000 square feet.

Now, the handling capacity of domestic passengers has increased to 200 local and 400 international passengers. Twelve new facilitation counters have been established for international and four for the domestic travellers.



The prime minister said airports were being completed in every province, adding that ports had been expanded and gas, power and railway projects were being carried out. He said the government had delivered in every sector of the national economy and there was an unending list of development project.

“Earlier there was a very small airport in the city which is Pakistan’s third largest city, but the CAA has established the modern airport within stipulated time and using the minimum budget. The number of flights at the airport has increased to 118 a week,” he added.

“This is just the beginning. Aviation is the backbone of every modern economy. Particularly, the exporting economies cannot grow without aviation,” the PM said, adding that the number of flights would increase to hundreds within weeks so the CAA should start planning its further expansion.

He assured the gathering that the link road towards motorway would be completed soon as committed by former PM Nawaz Sharif.

“I hoped that the CAA will continue its leadership in the aviation sector by opting to modern and international standards,” he added.