PPP marchers to be ‘welcomed’ in Pindi

Interior minister tells opposition to refrain from creating misunderstandings

ISLAMABAD:

 

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his long march to Islamabad would be “welcomed” and served refreshments in Rawalpindi.
Addressing a news conference accompanied by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood in the federal capital, Fawad said it would be better if the marchers arrived after the ongoing Test match between Pakistan and Australia being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The PPP's Awami March is set to reach Islamabad on March 8, however the Australian cricket team is also in the country for a historic tour and the first Test match between the teams from both sides is scheduled to continue till the same date. The minister said the Australian team was touring Pakistan after a gap of 24 years and the government did not want any development that would adversely affect cricket in the country.

However, he quipped that even if Bilawal and his marchers came to Rawalpindi during the Test match, a cabin would suffice for the few people and refreshments would be served to the “60 to 100” people accompanying the PPP chairman.

The minister further maintained that the opposition parties would not succeed in any move against the government as neither they had the required numbers nor public support.
“There is no possibility of tabling of a no-confidence move by the opposition parties as they are only giving timelines,” he added.

He said the faces of the opposition leaders – particularly that of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the president of the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – were reflective of their depressing situation as they did not have anything to back them up. “The opposition parties are trying to create a political environment by staging marches and proposing a no-confidence move for face-saving only.”

Also read: Opposition defers no-trust move deadline after Fazl-Zardari meeting

Fawad claimed that the two major opposition parties – the PPP and PML-N – had been reduced to regional parties only. “The PPP has been limited to some divisions of Sindh province. Similarly, the PML-N has been confined to a few divisions of Punjab.”

He added that the JUI-F had presence in some area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The minister expressed his gratitude to the ruling party’s allies for “standing firmly” with the government. The minister condemned Friday’s suicide attack on an imambargah in Peshawar, adding that an investigation into the incident was under way and the culprits would be traced out soon by the agencies.

On the country’s foreign policy, he said the ruling PTI was following an independent and balanced one based on equal relations with all major countries, including the US and Russia. “Pakistan wants good relations with all major countries. It enjoys good ties with the US also.” He said the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan had always declared that the use of military force was never a solution to any dispute.

“We have also spoken at the forum of the UN that the Russia-Ukraine dispute should be resolved through dialogue and not through the use of force.” Fawad claimed that PM Imran had emerged as a true leader of the country as well as the Ummah. He added that Pakistan was going to make history again by holding the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting on March 22. Besides the OIC, foreign ministers of other important countries would also be present in the country on March 23 – Pakistan Day.

To a question, the minister claimed that the purpose of introducing amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) was to “check propaganda and stop dissemination of hate material on print, electronic and social media”.

Separately, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said the opposition was “creating a lot of ruckus" about the no-trust move, however, the request for calling a National Assembly session for this purpose had not been received yet.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, the minister maintained that even after the requisition had been submitted, the NA speaker would take another two or three days to approve it, after which a week would be reserved for speeches and then a vote would be taken on the no-trust motion. “The entire process takes 24 to 25 days, if not a month.”

Rashid said the opposition should not create misunderstandings among the people, stressing that Premier Imran would complete his five-year term. “The country is not destroyed by floods, earthquakes or diseases, but suffers from rumours, sabotage and chaos,” he claimed. He also dispelled the rumours that his ministry had received requests for the renewal of former premier Nawaz Sharif's passport. (With input from APP)