Daily Times

Sir: It is good to note that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has once again reiterated quite forcefully, that the country needs the holding of timely general elections, so that our fragile democracy can survive.

In an interview with a private TV channel, an anchorperson said that his office requires taking difficult decisions and these are huge responsibilities which he is trying to shoulder to the best of his abilities. He is the premier and all the powers of PM rest with him, decisions are taken by the cabinet.

The PM said there is no threat to the Senate elections. All political parties want democratic process to continue in the country. He does not believe in conspiracies. Unfortunately, conspiracies have been hatched against democracy in the state.

About Indian propaganda against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), PM Abbasi said New Delhi has been waging propaganda against the multi-billion dollars project from the very beginning. Gwadar is a commercial port and it is being used for commercial purposes. He does not think that there is a threat of war between the two nuclear armed neighbours. We have always said the doors for talks with India are open. The dialogue process between Pakistan and USA is ongoing at every level, we are a sovereign state and do not want an act to occur that may deteriorate the regional situation, we are bound to safeguard our borders.

Replying to questions about Afghanistan, Prime Minister Abbasi said his government has conveyed to the US that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan most of all and that it has taken every measures in this regard. We will not resolve Afghanistan’s issues, we want Afghanistan to solve its own issues as no outsider is going to come to solve their problems.

It was a free, frank and down to earth interview and PM Abbasi answered all questions put to him without mincing words in an unfazed manner. Well done, PM Abbasi!

AAMER NAAMJEE

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, January 18^th 2018.