–PM Abbasi says judicial verdicts, NAB hampering country’s progress
–Says history, people will not accept decisions based on Iqamas
NAROWAL: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday stated that the politicians deserve as much respect as the judges, generals and government officials.
Addressing a ceremony in Pasrur, the prime minister remarked that a country which doesn’t respect its politicians can never progress. “Politicians are in the front when it comes to running countries and solving problems.”
PM Abbasi, while referring to disqualification of former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, said that he was disqualified on basis of an Iqama, a decision which will neither be accepted by history nor people.
The country cannot progress wherein no respect is given to the politicians. If a politician is disqualified on the basis of Iqama then it is not in favour of the country.
The vote of the people should be respected, he said, adding that the decision made by the ballot boxes should be respected for the next five years.
He observed “a politician is held accountable after every five years,” adding that no one else is held accountable this way. There is only one way leading to the development of the country that “respect the vote, respect the politician, he said.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government addressed the problems faced by people through construction of projects pertaining to electricity, gas and roads, he said, adding: “I am happy that whom you elect and send to the assemblies not only resolve the problems faced by the people but they also play pivotal role in the development of the country.”
“Were [Pervez] Musharraf and [Asif] Zardari lacking resources that they couldn not carry out development works during their tenures,” the PM questioned. “Why they did not get construct CPEC,” the PM said while taking a jibe at his political opponents.
Referring to political opponents’ tactics, the prime minister regretted that if instability was not created, the country could have achieved greater progress and development.
Stressing on the needs for institutional harmony, the prime minister said that all institutions in the country should work for the development of the country and save it from plunging back into the darkness.
“With judicial verdicts and NAB’s [National Accountability Bureau (NAB) functioning, the country could not attain progress,” he added. It may be noted here that the PML-N leadership has criticised the anti-graft bureau time and again for “targeting the party leadership”.
“We are contesting with those elements that do not have enough in their baggage to go in the public and show their performance,” he added.
He said that the PML-N needs no points because we are standing here on the basis of our performance. He said the people could easily detect a vast difference between the economic situation of the country during the 2013 and the 2018.
Minister for State for Information and broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, former federal ministers Zahid Hamid, Khawaja Asif and political leaders were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister performed the groundbreaking ceremony of 4-lane Narowal – Lahore-Sialkot Motorway link highway.
The four-lane Narowal – Lahore-Sialkot Motorway links highway, the prime minister said and added that the Rs 16 billion project would serve as a milestone in the development of the area and its effects would be far reaching.
The four-lane dual carriageway project will connect Narowal, Narang Mandi and adjoining areas with motorway network through Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM) providing high speed transportation for the commuters, resulting in huge boost for agricultural, economic and commercial activities.
