ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said that people of Pakistan and the armed forces are fully capable to defend the motherland.
“India is continuously violating the ceasefire at LoC and targeting the innocent civilians to which Pakistan army was giving effective response” the Prime Minister said in an interview here on Thursday. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked India to enter into dialogue for the resolution of Kashmir issue in line with the UN resolutions.
Regarding Afghanistan, he said Pakistan’s position is very clear that the issue can be resolved through dialogue and not war. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to play its role for peaceful settlement of Afghan issue and said that Kabul government cannot hold Pakistan responsible for its own failure.
The Prime Minister categorically stated that there is no confrontation between institutions as the constitution has clearly provided the power of every institution.
He said the Election Commission should seriously look into the horse trading attempts in the Senate elections and said they would boycott the Senators elected by purchasing votes. He said the PML-N is neither involved in any such act nor it supports the horse trading. Without naming PPP, the prime minister said how a party having not a single MPA in the province was talking of getting its nominated people elected as Senator. He said those elected through horse trading can’t be representative of the people.
Answering a question Abbasi said new chairman for the Senate would be nominated after consultation in the party. He said leader of the opposition Syed Khursheed Shah would be consulted about caretaker Prime Minister at an appropriate time. He however welcomed the statement by Shah that the caretaker prime minister should be a spotless person having ability to organise transparent elections.
Regarding placing Pakistan on terror financing watch list, he said a meeting to discuss the matter will be held on 20th February and all aspects would be considered. He said Pakistan is keeping the international community about ground realities. INP