Can’t leave field open for PTI in Senate: Ahsan

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leader and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal said the opposition party will contest upcoming Senate elections and will not ‘leave the field open’ for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.

“The ruling party will secure a two-thirds majority in the parliament and change the face of the Constitution, if the PML-N doesn’t contest the elections,” said Iqbal, while talking to media on Wednesday after hearing of a case in an Accountability Court.

He further said the PTI could do away with the 18th Amendment and impose a presidential system of governance in the country, if the ruling party managed to secure majority in the Senate elections.

“They [PTI leaders] will take the country towards a presidential system,” he said. “We will take part in the Senate [elections] as the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) central point is to stop the government's conspiracies.”

The former federal minister alleged the government for corruption and embezzlement of public funds.

“Ministers of the PTI-led government are involved in the worst form of corruption,” he said. “Be it sugar or wheat crisis or corruption in utility stores. On one hand each minister talks about honesty, while on the other hand, each one is busy looting the country.”

He demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan should be sent packing in order to save the country.

Iqbal accused the government of spending money on fake cases, saying sham references made against the PML-N leaders aimed at their character assassination.

Talking about the ongoing case of Narowal Sports City project, the PML-N stalwart said Rs2.5 billion was spent on the project but the amount was shown as Rs6 billion and the reference was filed.

He further noted the PML-N government had completed various development projects which can be seen across the country.

Comparing the PML-N tenure with the incumbent government, he said the former government borrowed Rs10 trillion and added 11,000 megawatts in electricity production, while the PTI borrowed Rs11 trillion during the past two-and-a-half years without any new projects in the country.

Earlier, the Accountability Court adjourned hearing on the Narowal Sports City Complex reference against Iqbal till February 10.

AC-III Judge Syed Asghar Ali heard the graft reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Ahsan Iqbal and other co-accused.

The hearing was adjourned on the request of the defence lawyer who stated that his client wanted to file acquittal plea in the National Accountability Bureau reference.

(With input from APP)