It is not army’s job to set date for polls: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the judiciary and the media are independent in the country and it is not the job of the army to give date for general elections in the country.

He categorically stated that the people have given the mandate to the PML-N and the assembly will not be dissolved even a second before the due time. He said the general elections will be held in July this year and “No one could compel me to dissolve the assembly,” he said. Abbasi said the people hadn’t accepted the verdict of July 28.

Talking to newsmen here at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, he said that he can give advice for dissolving the assembly if asked by the party president. The prime minister expressed the confidence that the ruling party would win the 2018 elections on the basis of its performance. He said the PML-N government implemented its development agenda including initiation of numerous projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said the first Industrial Zone at Gwadar has been completed and the work on Express Bay is underway.

To a question, he said there is continued engagement with the United States including Track Two diplomacy. He said Pakistan has made it repeatedly clear that there is no room to do more. The premier said Pakistan is engaged in the war against terror for its own security interests.

Abbasi said the Afghan conflict could only be resolved through dialogue. He said if the United States is genuinely interested in Afghanistan peace, then it should provide assistance for repatriation of over three million Afghan refugees to their homeland from Pakistan.

He reminded that Pakistan didn’t initiate the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul Fasaad at the behest of the United States since it was our own requirement. “We are not fighting the war against terrorism on the basis of financial assistance of others but fighting it with our own resources.”

The prime minister also said there could be no normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India without resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He recalled that India has stepped up violation of ceasefire on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. “We don’t have any aggressive designs about India but we can defend our motherland befittingly. Pakistan and India should try to improve their bilateral ties instead enhancing defence expenditures.

Talking about the privatisation of PIA, the PM said that the PIA’s daily losses are to the tune of Rs10 to Rs15 crore and the arrears against the national airlines stand at Rs450 crore. “It is beyond the capacity of the government to run the airlines with this huge loss. If the Supreme Court wishes to make a decision in this regard, it could do so. Our economy cannot bear PIA's burden,” he added. He said the new slamabad airport would be inaugurated in March 2018. He was of the view that the Civil Aviation Authority cannot run the airport and it should enter into an agreement with any specialist company for the purpose.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister Office on Tuesday. Chairman PTEA Shaiq Jawed and members of the delegation lauded the concerted efforts of the government towards successfully overcoming the energy crisis in the country.

The delegation also appreciated the export package announced by the government for the textile exporters. The members of the delegation expressed their resolve to boost Pakistan’s textile exports beyond $40 billion in the next five years.

Prime Minister Abbasi reiterated the commitment of the government to undertake all possible measures aimed at creating an enabling environment for the businesses to grow and making competitive headway globally.

He said Pakistan offers unlimited export opportunities as Pakistan has indigenous cotton production coupled with investment in value addition, and a well-trained labour force. The delegation presented various proposals for further boosting country’s textile exports.

Abbasi assured that the proposals of the PTEA will be considered and steps will be taken to facilitate the textile exporters in consultation with all the stakeholders for export oriented growth in the country. Minister for Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali was also present during the meeting.