Won’t let capital shut down: Dar

Warns Imran not to be jealous; says neither his thinking nor intention is good; Imran has usurped charity money and did not present himself for accountability

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has categorically stated that the government will not let the federal capital be shut and held hostage, adding that the Federal Interior Ministry would take all necessary measures in this regard and would fully protect life and property of people and businessmen.

He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) capital office in Islamabad on Saturday.

Representatives of businessmen and traders of the capital and other regions asked the federal finance minister to make sure protection of their life, property, shops, business and residences in the light of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s November 2 sit-in and to ensure that it would not affect them as the dharna in 2014 had inflicted heavy losses on them.

Ishaq Dar said that though such an issue was not related to his ministry yet it was the legal and constitutional responsibility of the Federal Interior Ministry to provide leak-proof protection to life, property, shops, businesses and residences of people of the capital in case of a sit-in on November 2 and not to allow a shutdown of businesses.

Ishaq Dar said that there remained no justification to stage such a sit-in because the Supreme Court had started hearing cases of PanamaLeaks and its decision would have to be accepted by the government and all the petitioners too.

While addressing Imran Khan, the finance minister said, “You should not be jealous and fiery as neither your thinking nor your intentions are positive.”

The finance minister said that opponents of a prosperous Pakistan, anti-Pakistan foreign elements and their cronies did not want to see Pakistan on the way to progress, improvement in law and order in Karachi and achievements of Zarb-e-Azb and economic development in the country.

He said the business community and masses could see the meaningful results of achievements of Zarb-e-Azb and Karachi operation, which were carried out with the consultations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

He called the PTI chief ‘a frustrated man’ and suggested him to stop being jealous of the government.

Pointing towards Imran Khan, he said some people misused the donation money and had no courage to present themselves for accountability, reported Geo News.

Taking back-to-back shots at the opposition leader, he said: “Those with containers can’t accept the country’s progress as it makes them suffer from diarrhea because they know if Pakistan moves ahead, they have no chance in 2018. For the sake of Pakistan, put aside your ambitions to enter the PM House, consider politics as service and you will see the result.”

He said that everyone was accountable in front of Allah, the nation and institutions and Pakistan Muslim League-N is not running away from it. “The prime minister has presented himself in front of the institutions for accountability,” Dar said. However, he added that sticking with the past won’t resolve the country’s current woes.

INP adds: In a statement on Saturday, Ishaq Dar said that Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan would have to wait even after 2023 for his turn. Lashing out at Imran, Dar said that there were some sick minds that didn’t want Pakistan to make progress. “The man who loves being on the container is unable to digest Pakistan’s progress,” Dar said. “The opponents know that they will not be able to form a government even after the end of our current term,” he said.