LONDON: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday that he agrees with the point of view of Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif that Pakistan needs to set its own house in order first in the war against terrorism.
The foreign minister’s statement came after the US and BRICS nations scrutinised Pakistan for harbouring terrorists.
Khawaja Asif had called for tougher action against militant groups and admitted that banned outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are operating from within Pakistan.
The remarks were criticised by former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, saying that the authorities should first fix the matters of their own “house”.
Talking to a private news channel before leaving for the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Prime Minister Abbasi said: “Pakistan has made clear its national policy to America. In the UN, Pakistan will tell the world about its role in the fight against terrorism.”
While referring to July 28 verdict of the Supreme Court which led to the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister said that the government is not satisfied with the ongoing accountability drive.
Abbasi said that he had met former prime minister Nawaz Sharif—who is in London these days—to discuss political and other issues of the country.
With regards to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate and the former premier’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz’s victory in the NA-120 by-election, the prime minister said the result shows that the masses trust Nawaz’s leadership.
With regards to allegations of corruption against him in the ‘LNG case’, he said, “I am available. Everything will come out in the open in court”. He added that Sheikh Rasheed’s allegations [against him in the LNG case] will prove false.
Later, the prime minister also met Kulsoom Nawaz and congratulated her on her victory in NA-120 by-polls.
The prime minister reached London over the weekend and headed to the US on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.