General elections will be held in October 2023: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (SABAH): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry has said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in middle of next month is expected to give a new impetus to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan should not make the appointment of army chief as source of doing politics, adding that the appointment of army chief is an administrative decision and it will be taken on time according to law and constitution. He said that doing polices on this issue is excess with the institution and also play with the sovereignty of Pakistan.
Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Wednesday, Ahsan Iqbal however regretted that Imran Khan through its long march and sit-ins and creating unrest wants to damage Pakistan’s image at the international level.
He said that Imran Khan Rollback CPEC project and put it into the freezer for four years of his rule, addling that Imran Khan along with rollback, also tried to make CPEC disputed. He said that the ministers of Imran Khan while leveling baseless and false allegations against CPEC and while shaking the confidence of the Chinese investors tried to foil this project, adding that in result of this in next four years no practical progress was made on the CPEC. He said that no new project under CPEC was started.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Imran Khan tried to foil the IMF agreement, adding that India opposed the IMF agreement and in Pakistan PTI and Imran Khan opposed the IMF agreement, adding that India and Imran Khan were on the same page to foil the IMF agreement.
While announcing the date of next general elections, Ahsan Iqbal said the general elections will be held in October 2023. He said Imran Khan should call off his long march and sit-in and should make preparations for the next elections. He said the results of population census will be available by March next year following which the Election Commission of Pakistan will require four months for delimitation of constituencies.
He said the government during the next five to six months will focus entirely on the rehabilitation of flood affected people. He said Pakistan at this juncture requires stability and unity to cope with the challenges of terrorism and floods devastation.
Ahsan Iqbal said that China is Pakistan’s all season and all weather friend and iron brother. He said that with the cooperation of China over 5,000 megawatt electricity projects were installed, which helped fulfilling the energy needs of Pakistan. He said that modern roads and motorways were established with the cooperation of China, work on Gwadar Port was stated and many other projects were also started.
Replying a question, Ahsan Iqbal said that our judiciary has delivered clear judgments that no one could create disruption in Red Zone, adding that if Imran Khan wants to organize peaceful gathering then he should come happily and should sit for 10 days or 20 days at Parade Ground and F-9 Park. He said that if Imran Khan wants to take government then he should come and table no-confidence motion in National Assembly and if he has 172 members we will present him the government tomorrow and if he is short of majority and wants to capture government through force and any group then it is not 18th century, where you will conquer Delhi with force, adding that it is 21st century. He said that Imran Khan will not be allowed to hijack the system with force, adding that if Imran Khan will choose the path of force then the law of the land will play its role and we will defend Islamabad. He said that the action done by Donald Trump in America and even today he is being maligned for it, adding that if Imran Khan wants to repeat the same thing along with his supporters in Islamabad it could not be permitted.