Putting each other behind bars won’t fix economy: Khaqan Abbasi

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said that putting each other behind bars won’t fix the country’s tanking economy.

“Pakistan’s economic situation can’t be improved by putting each other behind the bars,” Khaqan said during a press conference in Karachi. He suggested forming a commission to identify the elements responsible for economic deterioration.

The former premier regretted that the political system no longer had the competence to solve the country’s issues. He said that he had no idea about the crisis Pakistan’s economy was facing until the PML-N took power. “All of us are responsible for finding a solution to the issues of the country as we belong to different political parties,” he added.

The former premier said that there was “interference of establishment” in politics, which created instability in a democratic system.

Moreover, the PML-N leader reiterated that all was well between him and the party and that the country’s interest was their priority.

Criticising the country’s anti-graft watchdog, Abbasi said the governments don’t last due to the presence of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). How many politicians did NAB hold accountable, he asked.

“The institutions are not working within their constitutional limits,” Abbasi said.

While speaking about Friday’s attack on the Karachi Police Office, the former premier said the country had faced such unfortunate incidents and challenges earlier as well.

He said that these challenges had to be countered now as well.

Abbasi said the PML-N had been facing the cases and he doesn’t want to end the cases against him. “I challenge NAB to hold hearings on a daily basis and either acquit us or convict us,” he said.

The politician said the accountability agency asked him every type of question but not whether he pays taxes or not. “If [anyone] wants to do accountability, then the tax system itself clears the situation,” Abbasi added.

Meanwhile, former senator and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who accompanied Khaqan, said that “terrorism is rearing its head, which is the failure of political parties.” He said that an all parties conference couldn’t be held on the audacious suicide attack on the police lines mosque in Peshawar.

“Is there any single institution in the country that can fulfill its constitutional responsibility,” he asked. He added that it was high time that they discuss the issues together.