KARACHI – The army should not be consulted on political matters, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader Pir Pagara said at a reception thrown by former provincial minister Imtiaz Shaikh at his residence. “There will be no general elections in Pakistan for the next 20 to 25 years,” he added. Pagara said that new criteria of eligibility for vote-casting would be formulated, according to which the right to vote would be given to taxpayers, the affluent and those who are at least seventh-grade literate.
He said that the country could progress only without mullahs. “I haven’t nominated Shah Mehmood Qureshi for prime minister, but if Qureshi is made prime minister, I shall be happy because he belongs to my class,” Pagara said. He opposed the construction of the Kalabagh Dam, saying that considering the financial constraints of the country, the project was not feasible.
