Govt in no hurry to punish Imran after ECP verdict: Kaira

Kaira says the law will take its course with Khan, AJK govt will remain intact and Kashmiri refugees will be supported

MUZAFFARABAD:

Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday said that the law will take its own course regarding Imran Khan and the federal government is in no hurry to punish the PTI chief.

Speaking to the media, Kaira said that the government does not want a clash with the institutions. However, every institution ought to work within its own sphere and if the public has complaints against any institution, then they should first work to put their house in order.

The PPP leader said that the foreign funding case was under scrutiny for eight years and Khan was aware of the decision the Election Commission Of Pakistan (ECP) would give. He further said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was not in a hurry to 'grill' Khan.

Kaira further said that Khan knew that the ECP decision would not go in his favour. "There were 150 appearances in this case. Now the law will make its decision regarding Khan."

The PPP leader added that the financial, legal and administrative powers of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government will not be changed. However, sometimes change is inevitable and for the betterment of the public.

He stated that if problems arise, the federal government will provide AJK with resources as with other provinces but will not do so to change its basic governance structure.

"The budget for AJK is not made solely from the resources of this region. Thus, there is a need for improvement in the collection of taxes in AJK."

To a question, Kaira said that Khan knew about the Indian actions of August 5, 2019. He expressed this while speaking at Islamabad Airport after returning from his visit to America in July 2019, a few weeks before the removal of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIJOJK).

"After August 5, 2019, Khan could not properly highlight the issue of IIOJK and India's atrocities against Kashmiris at the international level."

During his visit to the area today, Kaira also distributed cheques of Rs1 million each the affectees of flooding and torrential downpur.

He visited the Kashmiri refugee camp and announced that the federal government has released the first instalment of Rs3 billion to the AJK government on special instructions from PM Shehbaz Sharif in order to settle the 1989 Kashmiri refugees permanently. More than 8,000 houses will be constructed for Kashmiri refugees.