Daily Times

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said that there was no pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for cuts in the defence budget.

According to a TV channel, Shah Mehmood Qureshi clarified that the defence budget cuts had not been made over any pressure from the IMF.

“Pakistan’s armed forces have made a decision itself for not taking an additional share under defence budget in order to lessen the burden on the nation,” he said.

While criticising the opposition, Qureshi said that the political parties should determine the root cause of rising inflation rate before holding protests. “Is inflation a consequence of mistakes made in the last eight months or past 10 years?” questioned the finance minister.

“Who sacrificed lives and restored colours in Waziristan? Which segment is creating chaos in Waziristan?” He asked the opposition to set national interests among its priorities. “How foreign investment can come to Pakistan if the opposition holds protests at a time when the government is inviting international companies to invest in the country?” He termed opposition’s strategy against national interests and democracy.

While commenting over Shehbaz Sharif’s return, Qureshi said that the return of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president was a positive sign. He added that the courts were independent in the country and Sharif should be given a chance to defend himself. Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, had confirmed that the party president, Shehbaz Sharif, was returning to Pakistan on Sunday early morning in Lahore.