Opposition’s no-confidence motion is destined to fail: Fawad
ISLAMABAD, Mar 09 (SABAH): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said Prime Minister Imran Khan enjoys the support of majority parliamentarians and opposition’s no-confidence motion is destined to fail.
Addressing a news conference, along with Minister for Energy Muhammad Hammad Azhar, in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said around 184 members of the National Assembly are strongly standing behind Prime Minister Imran Khan. He demanded the Speaker National Assembly to convene session of the Assembly to sort out the issue of no-trust motion. He said that the country was not in a position to afford political chaos for a long time.
The minister asked the opposition to show some courage and boldness and show the list of members supporting their no-confidence move in the media first.
Fawad Chaudhry went on to say that the ruling PTI National Assembly members told him that he was offered up to Rs 100 million, adding that they strongly reject such politics. He said government tried its best to negotiate electoral reforms with the opposition and now no talks on electoral reforms will be held with them.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said PML-N and PPP have been involved in horse-trading in the past and now Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are taking this practice to new heights. He said Imran Khan is the sole challenger of these merchants of horse-trading. He said Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari believe in politics of money and looting and stashing national wealth abroad. He said they are offering millions of rupees to buy the loyalty of our members.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also gotten personal benefits from the government of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also been accepting money from foreign forces. The Minister for Information announced that now the government will not indulge in any kind of talks with the opposition and deal its negative tactics accordingly.
He said the government would not hold any talks with the opposition, adding that “we tried to talk to them on electoral reforms and other matters of public interest but they did not respond to us”.
He criticised PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for saying that one of the reasons behind the no-trust move was the premier’s recent criticism of the European Union in Mailsi. “Is the EU your relative?” Fawad Chaudhry questioned as he explained that relationships between countries are based on national interests and Pakistan’s interests would have to be considered above the EU’s or any others.
Fawad Chaudhry said no Pakistani leader since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had pursued an independent foreign policy save for Prime Minister Imran Khan. He shut the door of any negotiations with the opposition, declaring that “we will deal with them as is done with criminals.”
Questioned on whether the allies still stood with the government, Fawad Chaudhry said “good meetings” were held with them and they were with the “strong government”. “Matters are in super control and you will see more clearly in the next one to two days,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Hammad Azhar said Prime Minister Imran Khan has put country’s economy on the path of growth and development. Hammad Azhar said Prime Minister Imran Khan is pursuing an independent and strategic foreign policy in the best interest of Pakistan.
Hammad Azhar said the opposition was not able to tolerate the economic feats of the PTI government. “Despite all the crisis, Pakistan is progressing and we are being seen as a model for development.” He said Pakistan’s current growth rate stood at 5.5pc even amid “all the challenges at hand”.
The energy minister said the political commotion being caused by the opposition was also an attack on the economy, adding “the opposition is also trying to shake the confidence of investors who are quite optimistic about Pakistan’s future.” He maintained that PM Imran Khan would emerge even stronger in the next two weeks, insisting that he “enjoys the complete support of people”.