Polls after 3 months, or 2 years: Raja Riaz

ISLAMABAD: The ‘opposition leader’ in the National Assembly (NA), Raja Riaz Ahmed, has said that being a political worker, he feels that either elections will be held in after three months, in November this year, or after two years.

He expressed these views during an interview with a private TV channel. He said if elections were not held in November, then the country would be strengthened economically, and added that unless it becomes financially stable, he was not seeing elections.

Elaborating, Raja Riaz said: “If you look at requirements of democracy, then elections should take place on time. I am in favour of it.

“If you look at the country’s economic situation, it appears to be very serious and dangerous,” he explained. Raja said he believed the country should be strengthened economically and added that so many elections had taken place [in the past so] and those would keep taking place in future as well.

Raja said he could not divulge anything on his support or opposition to Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar’s name as the interim prime minister. However, he added that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would reach consensus on finalising a name for the caretaker prime minister slot. “I have a very good working relationship with Shehbaz Sharif sahib. We will agree on a name,” he added.

He said it was not a matter of one’s stubbornness that he wanted the PM to agree to any name suggested by him. He might also agree to the premier’s suggestion if he suggested an appropriate name for the slot.

Asked about the ruling coalition government’s views on banning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the aftermath of the violent events of May 9, Raja Riaz asserted, “Because of the [disrespect to] martyrs, I say that this party (PTI) should be banned.”

Raja Riaz said the PTI had managed to do what India could not. When asked if action should be taken under Article 6 (high treason) of the Constitution against the party’s leaders, he responded: “Definitely it should take place”.

Regarding military trials of civilians, Raja Riaz said, “Why did these people go into their (army’s) territory. If they went into their territory, then a case should proceed according to their domain as well. There is no harm in it”.

When Raja Riaz was asked about PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s loyalty to party chief Imran Khan, he said those who were sincere with Imran Khan were either in jail or had fled, while those who were still standing with him were not sincere.