Pakistan
'We will not victimize anyone': PM Shehbaz
Says the campaign against the military and national security agencies is intolerable
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the previous government misused the country's resources.
Talking to reporters, he said law and the institutions would take its own course as they {the government) wouldn't victimize anyone.
"I don't need to tell anyone as everything is on the record." Sharif said electoral reforms were a priority.
He made it clear that the campaign against the military and national security agencies was intolerable, adding law would take stern action against such elements.
The premier said the decision of the Supreme Court would be implemented in accordance with its spirit.
The National Accountability Bureau wouldn't be used for victimization of anyone, he added.
He said the parliament had one and a half years left and his fate would be decided by the allies, adding he hoped the PPP would join his cabinet.
He said the coalition government inherited the serious economic challenges including record inflation, unemployment, and poverty; however vowed to make untiring efforts for providing the much-awaited relief to the masses.
The premier said even the relief measures announced by him in his maiden address as prime minister, including Rs 25,000 minimum wage and 10% increase in pensions were also meager compared to over 20% inflation rate.
He told the media that earlier in the day, he had interacted with the economic experts seeking their suggestions to overcome the economic difficulties.
The prime minister said the statistics being shared by the government were not meant to upset the people but to explain the economic challenges inherited by the government.
The prime minister said after the formation of the federal cabinet, the government would come up with short-term and mid-term plans to overcome the inflation and the revival of the economic system.
To a question, the prime minister hoped that being the coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party would join the federal cabinet.
He said the surge by 2300 points in the 100-index of Pakistan stock exchange and rupee appreciation of Rs10 against the dollar were the feel-good factors. The stock exchange was in fact a barometer to gauge the sentiments of the business community in the country, he added. However, this needed to be built up through dedicated and untiring efforts, he added.
The prime minister said the main focus of the coalition government was to introduce the electoral reforms. He said though it was one and half years to complete the government’s term, it was the coalition parties to decide when to go for elections.
To a question, he said the evil nexus between ex-prime minister Imran Khan and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had been exposed as it believed in the political victimization.
Shehbaz Sharif, assured that the incumbent government neither believed in nor intended to carry out any victimization; however the law would take its own course to punish the wrongdoers as the institutions were well cognizant of their responsibilities.
Asked about the relief measures he had announced soon after his election, the prime minister explained that the benchmark of minimum wage had been elevated to Rs 25,000 a month and pensions increased by 10 percent, also asking the business community to announce 10% raise for their employees with Rs100,000 monthly income.
The prime minister said by deploying the officials from all federating units, the PM House would be made to reflect as Pakistan House. However, merit will be the order of the day with one to be allowed to go against the merit.
Referring to the Letter-gate, the prime minister asked if Kashmir and Afghanistan could be discussed in the parliament then why not the letter.
To a question about the reversal to six-day a week working in the federal government organizations, the prime minister said five-day working suited only the prosperous nations while in Pakistan, it required immense hard work to overcome the issues.
-- Holds consultations over formation of cabinet --
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday held important consultations with the leadership of allied parties over the formation of federal cabinet.
During his meetings with key leaders of various parties at their residences including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of MQM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Dr Khalid Magsi, Shah Zain Bugti and Aslam Bhotani, he individually expressed his gratitude to these leaders and their members of the assembly for supporting him during his nomination and election to the office of the prime minister, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The prime minister said that with the same confidence and passion, they would move ahead.
He said that they would implement promises and resolve issue in consultation and cooperation with the allied parties.