–Foreign minister says Asad Umar cannot fix economy overnight
–Says NAB is autonomous, it cannot be pressurised
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday urged the opposition parties to stop raising a hue and cry against the incumbent regime and give the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government some time to deliver on its promises.
Talking to media after inaugurating a water filtration plant in E-block Shah Rukn-e-Aalam colony, he said that whether it is Finance Minister Asad Umar or someone else, the situation cannot be improved by finger snapping, the minister said, asking the opposition to wait for five years instead of making claims of derailing the government.
FM Qureshi said that former finance minister Ishaq Dar had created artificial stability in dollar price.
He said that the government is successfully moving towards attaining targets at the foreign front. “China, Japan, and Iran are the three important countries. Pakistan is going to hold dialogues with them in next few days,” he said, adding Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Iran and China this month as well.
He said that the premier will attend Belt and Road Forum opening as a chief guest in China and will deliver the address as well. In addition, Imran Khan will hold important meetings with the Chinese high-ups. He said that he himself would visit Japan in the next few days.
FM Qureshi said that the corrupt elements, whether they belonged to any party, must be brought to justice.
In a reference to Saturday’s argument between Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), he said that NAB is an independent institution, which the government expects would help eradicate corruption from the country.
“NAB is an independent institution and the government cannot pressurise it as it is free in taking its own decisions,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Fawad and NAB had traded barbs once again after the former ordered an inquiry into the minister’s tweet regarding PTI leader Aleem Khan’s case.
Responding to a question about alleged India’s involvement in the incident of terrorism in Quetta, the foreign minister said that Pakistan was a responsible country and it would not act like India and issue irresponsible statements. “Pakistan will investigate the incident thoroughly to trace the culprits, whether foreign hands are involved or sectarianism is behind this tragic incident,” he added. Qureshi said that the people of Hazara community are well mannered, educated and brave.
To another question about any threat from India, he said that the election process in India is likely to end by May 19, therefore, there is a need to remain vigilant.
About Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan is playing its role for peace and stability in Afghanistan and it would not interfere in any country’s internal matters. “The people of Afghanistan are taking their decisions by themselves,” he added.
To a question about bureaucracy, Qureshi said that it is the duty of the bureaucracy to implement policies of the incumbent government as there are competent officers in bureaucracy and he hopes that they would implement the government policies in letter and spirit.