CPEC to be completed on time: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has asked the opposition to refrain from dragging national institutions to politics as it will not serve interest of Pakistan.

Addressing at a joint news conference in Islamabad on Monday, along with Information Minister Syed Shibli Faraz, Planning Minister Asad Umar, and Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain the Foreign Minister said yesterday’s conference of the opposition reflected their desperation for not getting any concession or National Reconciliation Ordinance from the government.

He rejected opposition’s objections on foreign policy of the country saying that the entire world is acknowledging Pakistan’s role as facilitator in the Afghan Peace Process.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said it is a great achievement that now intra-Afghan negotiations have begun for lasting peace in the country.

Regarding Kashmir issue, the Foreign Minister said Prime Minister has vociferously raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the UN General Assembly, Organization of Islamic Countries, world human rights bodies and other global forums.

He said it seems strange that on the one hand, the opposition is criticizing government’s Kashmir policy; while on the other hand, they had supported government to get passed resolutions on Kashmir unanimously from the parliament.

Refuting opposition’s claim that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is being rolled back, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said all the projects of CPEC are rolling on and will be completed within the stipulated time period.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Syed Shibli Faraz said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his speech yesterday had raised suspicions about the election process because he is not used to a free and fair election. He said opposition is making state institutions controversial, which is not a service either to the country or the democracy. He said the opposition should come up with solid suggestions for free and fair elections instead of maligning the entire election process.

Syed Shibli Faraz said Nawaz Sharif is living in London on the pretext of health issues, but apparently he seems hale and hearty.

Asad Umar said opposition is doing all these gimmicks to protect its corruption and properties. He regretted the approach adopted by the opposition for personal gains. He said opposition’s narrative is very close to anti-Pakistan forces. He said unfortunately, the opposition has waged war on state institutions, including the military, judiciary, and National Accountability Bureau for not acting to its dictates.

The Planning Minister said former rulers had deliberately created an economic crisis in the country to give tough time to the PTI Government. He said the government successfully overcome this challenge and faded all the hopes of the opposition to trample the new dispensation. He said it is regrettable that the opposition opposed the Financial Action Task Force related legislation to prevent Pakistan from falling into FATF’s black list and to bring the country out of its grey list. He said yesterday’s speeches by the opposition leaders were celebrated in India.

Asad Umar said one should keep in mind that democratic system is fully functioning in Pakistan, while civilian and the military leadership is collectively working hard to take the country forward. He said the government and the military are collaborating in all matters, including COVID-19, locust attack, realization of Karachi transformational programme, and development in Balochistan.

Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government set new traditions of tolerance by allowing live broadcast of speeches of opposition leaders. He said Nawaz Sharif wanted to use institutions to protect his corruption and on refusal he used to turn against them, which is evident from the fact that the former Prime Minister had failed to develop working relationships with any of Army Chief during his three terms as chief executive of the country.