ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday said the opposition was in hot water after the Prime Minister successfully visit’s to China adding that they could not get the required numbers for no-confidence against the government.
Talking to media persons, the minister said the opposition could not bring a no-confidence motion against the government in last three and half years despite tall claims. The opposition could not defeat the government and the establishment was completely neutral and stood with the elected government, he said.
The minister said, the next 50 days were very important in politics but Imran Khan would emerge more powerful and victorious. The PM was going to Russia on an important visit after 22 years, he added.
He said the Iranian Interior Minister was also coming on February 14 while the Australian cricket team would also visit Pakistan after long team for a series.
Regarding the opposition long march, he said that he was not sure about the opposition’s long march on 23rd of the next month as PPP, PML-N and Maulana Fazalur Rehman have different politics. The opposition has kept eyes on the government allies, he added.
He said our allied parties fully supported the government on the recently passed finance bill in National Assembly.
Rasheed said network of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) offices was being expanded to the far-flung areas of the country. As many as 13 passport offices were being set up in interior Sindh, he added.
Similarly, he said a succession certificate would also be introduced in Azad Kashmir and Balochistan.
The Minister said that the government has decided 15 percent increase in salaries of all civil armed forces including rangers, frontier constabulary, coast guard, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts with effect from March. He has also requested the PM to raise the salaries of other departments as well, he added.
Responding to a question, he said Pakistan has good relations with the Afghan Taliban and they would not let anyone to use Afghan soil against us. He said the police has started mobile service.
To another question, he said Shahbaz Sharif was more corrupt than Nawaz Sharif and now a day seems more active as corruption and money laundering cases against him were stronger than Hamza.
He said Faisal Vawda would exercise his legal right and would challenge the Election Commission decision in the Supreme Court.
To a query, the minister said corruption cases of NAB were pending before the courts for a long time. However, he expressed the hope that 70 mega corruption cases of NAB would be settled in next one and half years.