MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the PML-N’s demand for mid-term elections has no justification, as hardly a year has passed since the last general polls.

Talking to the media in Jahanian, the minister said that the ruling party’s majority has been proved through the passage of the budget despite the opposition’s apparent unity against it.

“Under the prevailing circumstances, when the process to restore peace in Afghanistan is under way and the nature of affairs with India is precarious, there is no justification for mid-term elections.”

FM says Multan most suitable for S Punjab sub-secretariat in terms of data, merit, location

He stated that the government will complete its term no matter how many multi-party conferences are conducted by the opposition parties. The wrongdoings of the last 40 years could not be corrected within a year, but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government is making all-out efforts, he added.

“All institutions are facing deficits and it needs time to correct the affairs for which tough decisions will need to be taken. Some tough decisions have already been taken. Why do you not ask from the those parties that were fighting with each other for the last 40 years and are now united against the government only to hide their corruption? The opposition should respect the public mandate,” the minister said.

He further said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has categorically announced that no concessions will be given to the “looters” or deals signed with them, and whoever plundered the national wealth would be held accountable.

Mr Qureshi said that consultation meetings to make the foreign policy effective are being conducted frequently. “We want that the points of view of both sides should be heard. The points raised by the opposition leader have already been discussed as these points are of international nature which will affect the entire region. We have no hesitation in sitting with the opposition leader and he can express his point of view whenever he wants, while we will also discuss the government’s point of view with him, but he should have the courage to hear the truth,” he added.

He said that consultation for the creation of south Punjab province is under way and the province will be created during the current government’s tenure, while other political parties will also be consulted in this regard soon. Decision on the venue to establish the south Punjab sub-secretariat was yet to be taken as some “friends” are asking to establish it in Multan and others in Bahawalpur, he claimed.

“Some forces want to create hurdles in the establishment of a sub-secretariat by creating differences over the issue, but we will discourage them. Considering the data, merit and location, Multan is the most suitable city for the purpose and we will convince the people over it,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2019