Those who wish to resign in February can do so tomorrow: Rashid

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Sunday that opposition members who wanted to resign from assemblies in February can do so tomorrow.

While addressing a ceremony at the Police Lines Headquarters in Islamabad, the interior minister again rebuffed the 11-party Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) ultimatum, calling for the resignation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government by the end of January next year.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan would complete his five-year term,” Rashid reiterated. “We will welcome those who want to stage a long march,” the interior minister said in reference to the PDM's warning of staging one to Islamabad if the government failed to resign within the given time.

He further added that PM Imran would take the country forward by taking it out from the current economic and political turmoil.

“Police is being honoured for the first time because of PM Imran Khan,” Rashid said, adding that it would be for the first time in the country’s 70-year history that a prime minister would attend a ceremony at the Police Lines HQ on December 23.

Rashid said that PM Imran has entrusted him with the interior ministry, and he plans to bring about changes in it within 100 days.

He said that the Islamabad Police had removed checkposts to facilitate the movement of citizens. The interior minister further ordered the federal capital's inspector general to ensure the protection of lives and property of the citizens at any cost.

Talking about the National Database & Registration Authority's (NADRA) reforms, Rashid said that currently, identity cards and passports were being issued across 10 countries.

However, he added that facility to acquire ID cards and passports will be made available across the globe in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rashid reiterated his earlier announcement stating that the first identity card would be provided free of cost, whereas about 100,000 identity cards would be issued on a daily basis.

“Identity card offices will be opened in all administrative sub-divisions whereas one office will be opened every week in the remaining sub-divisions,” he said. “Immigration, NADRA, Passport [offices] FIA and all [related] agencies will be for the service of the nation.”

On December 18, Rashid announced that NADRA mobile vans would be sent to remote areas in order to ease access for people living in far off areas.

“NADRA and passport offices will be opened in all embassies of Pakistan,” the minister stated, adding that "Problems of overseas Pakistanis will be solved in two months".