MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says the opposition alliance with the name of Pakistan Democratic Movement is an unnatural alliance as the people having different agenda are part of it.

Speaking to the media here on Saturday, the foreign minister said the PTI was an expert in holding public gatherings and rallies that’s why the government had no fear of the gatherings and rallies announced by the opposition alliance. He said the sections of treason were not included in the FIR lodged against the PML-N leadership.

He said all the institutions in the country were working within their constitutional parameters and the PTI had full confidence in the institutions.

“All the institutions of the country are working within their limits and the Pakistan Army also worked jointly with the civilian institutions during corona pandemic and rains. We have full trust in our institutions. Our martyrs from the army scarified their lives for the safety of the country,” he added.

He said it was obvious that the opposition was seeking a deal but the government had no intention to give any relaxation over the accountability process.

“It seems that this alliance will not survive for long,” he claimed.

He said that on one hand the Sindh government was observing smart lockdown in the wake of coronavirus and, on the other hand, they are going to organise rallies.

“The public gatherings of opposition will result in an increase in the coronavirus cases in the country,” he said. He claimed that the anti-Pakistan agenda was being propagated.

“We have no doubt about the loyalty of anybody but the question is the elements that are criticising the national institutions are working on whose agenda. Why the opposition is in the grip of the fear of defeat even before the election of Senate,” he said.

He said the PTI government was not responsible for dearness in the country.

“Who made costly agreements in the past? The opposition should avoid being hindrance in the way of economic recovery,” he said. He said that a comprehensive strategy had been devised to reduce the flour prices in the country and the stockists were not serving the country.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2020