Minister rules out delay in elections

Ahsan Iqbal says PTI shattered like 'house of cards' unlike PML-N leadership that endured pressures and persevered

LAHORE:

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that elections in the country will be held on time.

Talking to the media on Monday, he said in a sarcastic vein that “revolutionists” could not even stay in jails for one or two days.

He said, "The way the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is shattering reminds us of an English language phrase 'the house of cards'."

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership faced jails even in tough situations, but never raised hue and cry.

Iqbal said there were many people in the PTI who did not support the politics of its leadership and the one being promoted on the PTI's social media.

He said that no patriotic person could support negative propaganda being promoted by the PTI overseas social media against country's defence institutions.

Iqbal said that if burning of residence of Quaid-i-Azam in Ziarat could be termed terrorism, burning of Jinnah House in Lahore could not be ignored by terming it political protest.

Attacks on the country's institutions could not be termed political protest, he said, adding that if the red line had been crossed and terrorism had been committed, it would be called terrorism.

“If any political worker plays a role within the parameters of politics and democracy, he will be considered as part of democracy.”

To a question, he said Pakistan had met all of the International Monetary Fund conditions, hoping that soon matters with the IMF would be finalised which would definitely end uncertainty in the market. APP