Kakar says Imran’s loyalists can contest polls

PM rejects impression crackdown on illegal aliens meant to usurp properties

LAHORE:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday said that neither the caretaker government had the authority nor any intention to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), assuring that candidates loyal to party Chairman Imran Khan would be allowed to contest the upcoming general elections.

Talking to media persons during a visit to the Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Kakar said that the government’s crackdown to evict the illegal aliens did not aim at seizing or usurping their properties or businesses.

He stressed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would announced the date of elections.

He added that the government wanted a permanent set-up in the country. On a personal note, he said: “I am as eager as you are, to cast vote.”

Kakar said that when the ECP had not imposed any ban on the PTI, how could the caretaker government take “an illegal and unconstitutional” measure to ban a political party.

“It is neither our authority nor the law allows it. Also, there is no case for any action against it yet,” he added.

When asked about providing a level-playing field to all the political parties in the elections, he said: “Their [PTI’s] candidates will participate in the election campaign. Loyalists of Imran Khan will participate in this election. How can we ensure a more level-playing field?”

Illegal aliens

The prime minister stated that no country allowed anyone to stay without proper documents. When asked about the deportation of foreigners residing illegally, the prime minister explained that the government action was not meant to seize or usurp someone’s properties or businesses.

“These are civil claims for which we have civil institutions and courts. If anyone has a claim, he will be protected and refunded under the law. It is not our policy or the aim to grab someone’s property or valuables like a usurper state.”Gaza situation

Read More: PM Kakar peppered with hard questions at LUMS

The prime minister condemned the Israeli reign of terror unleashed in the Gaza Strip. “There should be an immediate ceasefire in the current crisis in Gaza,” he said. “What Israel has done in Gaza cannot be justified in any way.”

In a separate interview with a private TV channel, Kakar said that the “utterly unacceptable violence [against the Gazans] be treated as war crimes”.

He called for creation of an unhindered humanitarian assistance corridor to Gaza to ensure the supply of essentials, including food and medicines.

Ties with India, US

When the interviewer asked about the prospects of improvement in Pakistan’s ties with India, Kakar said that Pakistan had very deep and complex challenges from the Indian side despite Islamabad’s constant efforts for peace.

“Peace seems to be an elusive idea from the other [Indian] side,” he said.

He stressed that Pakistan would not miss if there was any opportunity for improvement in relations with India, however, he continued, without the resolution of the Kashmir issue, a dialogue or normal trade activities were “unthinkable”.

“The world needs to prioritise the moral principles rather than its self-centred strategic interests,” he said.

On relations with the United States, Kakar said cooperation in areas of security and counter-terrorism continued as Islamabad was committed to fighting terrorism and extremism.

CPEC

The prime minister mentioned that China’s Urumqi and Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan had huge prospects for cooperation, particularly in trade and tourism. He expected big economic activity and influx of tourists, which would bring an improvement to the social and economic lives of the people.

Read More: The 10 years of CPEC

Speaking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) via Chinese Urumqi, and Khunjerab Pass of Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, he said: “Urumqi can become an opening gateway for us to the mainland China. It is a win-win situation for both Pakistan and China,” he said.

He also mentioned progress in Balochistan through the CPEC projects.

He termed Pakistan-China ties as “closest, most valuable, most desired and valued deeply by both sides”. Asked to describe China in three words, he said, “Dignified, huge, and self-confident.”

When asked that the rise of China was seen as a threat by some countries, he said no power on earth could undo the emerging power.

“The correct approach is to cooperate with China rather than to contain it,” he added.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)