India using Afghan soil to spread terrorism in Balochistan: Ahsan Iqbal

• Interior minister says PML-N will complete its tenure

• Says delimitation of constituencies will be conducted in light of recently-held population census

LAHORE: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday stated that India is using Afghan soil to spread terrorism in Balochistan.

Talking to reporters, Iqbal said that India is making all-out efforts to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“We will resolve all such issues in coming times,” he claimed, adding that the government is mulling to increase the number of security personnel in the Pak-Afghan border region.

To a question about the killings of 15 citizens in Balochistan, he said an investigation of the incident was underway and commenting on it before the investigation report would be inappropriate.

“It is true that across the border, terrorism has been increased in Balochistan so we are adopting measures for better security there,” he said.

He said monitoring at Afghanistan border was being improved and the government was vigilant.

In response to a question concerning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s demand to hold early elections, Iqbal stated that Khan was pressing for early elections since he anticipates his party’s nominated candidates will not be elected in the Senate elections.

He said the PTI’s KP members had revolted against their leadership so PTI chief knew he would not be able to get success in the next general election.

“If you are demanding early elections, it means you want the caretaker government for more than 90 days,” Iqbal told journalists.

Iqbal came down hard on the PTI chief for his anti-government remarks, adding that Khan had been issuing warnings to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government ever since it came into power.

The interior minister reassured that the ruling PML-N will complete its tenure and the delimitation of constituencies will be conducted in the light of the recently-held population census.

Regarding the verdict of the Supreme Court against Nawaz Sharif, he said the party had implemented the decision in letter and spirit without wasting a moment, but reservations on it were the right of the party.

To another question about Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, he said both were running their businesses abroad and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif involved them in the judicial process on ethical grounds.

“The judicial process has become a joke in the world,” he added.

The minister said the nation was vibrant and it would never elect an inexperienced person, adding that the masses had elected the PML-N in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan even after a negative campaign against the PML-N.

“We still need 2-3 months for the delimitation process to complete.” He further stated that every Pakistani believes that the country is progressing under the current ruling party.

“Every single Pakistani believes that today’s Pakistan is better from its recent past,” he said.

Referring to PTI, Iqbal claimed that running the country requires experience, adding that the country governance could not be passed on to a person who has never even worked at a union council level.

He said the nation was united on the constitution and democracy, adding that only one formula would be succeeded in the election 2018 and that was performance.

Answering a question about sit-in by Tehrik Labaik Ya Rasool Ullah, he said it was follow up of sit-ins started by Imran and Tahirul Qadri, whereas Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophethood) was the root of every Muslim’s faith.

To a question, he said working for Vision 2010, Vision 2025, CPEC and education was his achievement.

Earlier, addressing the convocation, Ahsan Iqbal said student politics of the UET showed him the way of success.

“The government has launched Prime Minister Internship Programme for 20,000 engineers with the cooperation of Pakistan Engineering Council,” he said.

He said a ground had been prepared for Pakistan to be among those countries which would introduce 5G technology as soon as it was launched in the world.

Provincial Minister for Punjab Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani also addressed the students and gave away PhD degrees to the passing out students.

Later, the federal minister gave away medals to the position holders of all campuses of the university.