‘Will retire after Nullah Leh project’

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid stated that after the success of the Nullah Leh project, he will retire from politics. He maintained that Punjab chief minister has been asked to immediately inaugurate Nullah Leh project. He said this while addressing a rally outside Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The minister also informed that the government has complied with 26 out of the 27 demands of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) yet Pakistan has been kept on the grey list. He said that to maintain peace, Pakistan has sealed 40 per cent of its border with Iran and 88 per cent of its border with Afghanistan.

He commented that Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that he will not provide military bases to the United States at any cost. We want to assure Afghanistan that Pakistan’s peace and development is linked to their peace and development, he added.

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Rashid further remarked that the opposition will not be able to contest against Khan in the next elections and that no one can defeat us (PTI) in Pakistan today. He added that he was proud to be a representative for the valley.

“I have never done politics over Kashmir, but from this point onwards, I declare that I will take up the issue more actively,” Rashid stated, adding that Kashmiri refugees have been paying rent in Rawalpindi for 70 years yet they do not have property rights. He said that he would sell the land under the Evacuee Trust Property Board to accommodate them.

I have never asked Kashmiris to vote, but for the first time I am asking for votes our candidate. He said that in politics only those who stand with the poor survive, adding that Lal Haveli will always stand with the poor.

Rashid said occupied Kashmir should be brought back to the situation it was in on August 5. We will hold a rally on the night of July 23 and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will win in Kashmir on July 25, he added. “I am proud to be heading a ministry for the 15th time and not been accused of corruption,” he mentioned. The rally was held in favour of a candidate for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s constituency.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2021.