PTI to legislate on system reforms

Shibli says govt ready to sit with opposition on economic issues

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Saturday maintained that after becoming the largest party in both the National Assembly and Senate, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government would introduce legislation in the parliament for reformation of the system and welfare of general public.

Addressing a news conference here, he said the PTI had now emerged as the single largest party both in both the Houses of the Parliament. The information minister noted that in the last twoand-a-half years, the opposition parties “obstructed” the legislative process in the upper house as they did not believe in the welfare of people.

“Unfortunately, the PTI was a minority party [at the time] in the Senate and could not introduce legislation required to implement its manifesto. But now it would introduce bills for reformation in the system,” he said. “The opposition parties did not bother to cooperate for the public welfare as they were interested only in their own welfare,” he added.

“That is the reason they only sent those in the Parliament who could protect the interests of the leadership of the opposition parties.” Expressing his views, he said the dignity of parliament could only be restored if it took decisions in the interest of people. “The government is ready to sit with the opposition on the economic issues and electoral and judicial reforms but the opposition wants relief in the ongoing cases in the courts.” The minister, however, made it clear that no NRO like relief would be given to the “corrupt” political leaders.

He regretted that the opposition parties were trying to make the election of Senate chairman and deputy chairman controversial and stressed that the upper house polls were held in a free, fair and transparent manner. He urged the opposition parties to see beyond their “personal vested interests” and work for the uplift of the country. Commenting on the PDM’s long march on Islamabad scheduled for March 26, he said the government would not allow the opposition to resort to violence during the rally. “These [opposition] parties might go ahead with their planned long march but they will not get any support from the people.

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No long or short march makes any difference,” he said. “Prime Minister Imran Khan is striving that the criteria for becoming a member of parliament should be eligibility and not wealth. [In this regard] Public welfare-related legislation and reformation of the system should be done,” he added. “The component parties of the PDM had conflicting interests and they stabbed each other in the elections of chairman and deputy chairman Senate.” Shibli said the economy was gaining strength as a result of “prudent” policies of the incumbent government. “We have stabilized the economy and the country is witnessing record remittances.”

He observed that the government was fully cognizant of inflation and the premier had been daily monitoring the situation. He said the PTI-nominated Sadiq Sanjrani for the post of Senate chairman as Imran Khan wanted to give representation to Balochistan. The information minister alleged that the former rulers could not take steps to resolve people’s problems and now their parties, PPP and PML-N had become regional entities. The PPP was a party of the entire federation but now it had shrunk to rural Sindh whereas PML-N had also become a regional party, he added. Replying to a question, he explained that Friday’s Senate poll was not a common election but was an election of a member from within the House members and that “it is a reality”.

Commenting on the opposition’s decision to move the court against the rejection of seven votes in the upper house, Shibli said that no one could be stopped from knocking the doors of justice. He said that the government would counter the move when the opposition introduces a no-confidence motion. About the discovery of spy cameras in the polling booth, he said the matter would be investigated.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)