Issues to be solved in consultation with opposition, says Pervez Khattak

NOWSHERA: Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak said on Sunday constitutional reforms would be introduced in consultation with all the opposition parties and all issues including that of army chief tenure would be resolved amicably.

He said this while addressing public meetings at three areas of the Nowshera district. The Pakistan People’s Party activists, including Ghulam Akbar, Adnan Akbar, Ali Akbar, Abbas Akbar, Badar Munir, Muhammad Tahir, Muhammad Zeshan, Umerzada, Hazrat Hussain and Asif Ali announced joining the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) along with family members and supporters on the occasion.

Pervez Khattak, Member Provincial Assembly Ibrahim Khattak, Ishaq Khattak, Ismail Khattak welcomed the new entrants to the party by presenting them the PTI caps.

The defence minister said the PTI government and the assemblies would complete their constitutional tenure. “There is no threat to the government and the assemblies,” he insisted.

He said registering protest was the right of the opposition parties and that was why the government never stopped them from exercising the very right. “But the country is passing through a critical phase and cannot afford the sit-ins and protests,” he argued. Pervez Khattak said that the enemy was conspiring to destabilise Pakistan by creating tension at borders. “The security of the country and national solidarity must be above all considerations,” he went on to add.

The defence minister said opposition parties were part and parcel of any democratic dispensation. “The government will take the opposition along. The constitutional reforms and all other important decisions will be made with the help of the opposition,” he hoped.

Pervez Khattak said the government was in constant contact with the opposition for resolving a number of issues. He said there was some lacking in the constitution about the army chief extension issue which had been rightly pointed out by the Supreme Court, adding all issues would be resolved harmoniously.

He hoped the issue of appointment of the chief election commissioner and other members of the commission would be resolved as well with cooperation from the opposition parties.

The defence minister believed Pakistan had been put on the road to progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the economic crisis had gone down. He hoped an era of prosperity would usher in shortly.

Pervez Khattak said the KP government was providing funds for the ongoing development schemes in the Nowshera district. He added that Rs6 billion funds had been allocated for gas supply projects and Rs 600 million for the electricity supply schemes in the district.

The defence minister said development funds would be spent on the union councils on the basis of the population. Pervez Khattak said Rashakai Economic Zone in Nowshera would be set up and made operational under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“This mega project will provide employment opportunities and help end the poverty,” he said and added that the CPEC City Project would change the destiny of the people of the area.