National Assembly to be dissolved on August 9, PM Shehbaz tells ruling allies
Pakistan
Shehbaz said decision about Caretaker PM will be taken in consultation with Leader of the Opposition
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the assemblies will be dissolved on August 9 and the decision about Caretaker Prime Minister will be taken in consultation with Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and before that he would consult all allied parties for the caretaker set up, Dunya News reported.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by him for leadership of allied parties, he said after formation of the coalition government on April 11 last year, he faced unprecedented challenges including economic difficulties, cumbersome talks with International Monetary Fund (IMF), disastrous floods, hyperinflation and political chaos.
He said that now Pakistan was out of danger of financial default but the next government would have to undertake major reforms to achieve economic independence and lessen burden on the common man.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and his gang created political chaos with their baseless accusations, riots and long marches. No country could make progress without political stability, he said adding politics of the country was poisoned with the culture of baseless allegations and abuse.
Shehbaz Sharif said the uphill challenge of IMF gave him sleepless nights as lack of IMF agreement would have burdened the economy, put pressure on foreign exchange reserves, devalued the rupee and caused unemployment.
He said he had critical talks with Managing Director IMF in Paris which finally led to successful conclusion of the agreement.
He said the previous government damaged foreign relations with its irresponsible attitude towards friendly countries including China and by levelling false accusations of corruption in the Chinese led projects. This irresponsible behaviour was against the interests of Pakistan, he stressed.
He said his government restored relations with China which in the past had invested more than $25 billion in infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
He said brotherly countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Islamic Development Bank bridged the financing gap of four billion dollar to meet requirements for an IMF deal.
Prime Minister said that China supported Pakistan and in the last three months provided $4.5 billion and sided with the country at the United Nations in sensitive matters.
President of China reiterated recently that his country would never leave Pakistan alone, he told.
He said the next government needed to ensure education and health facilities for people and employment for youth.
He said power sector losses amounted to Rs 50 billion every year while loss of some power distribution companies were at 50 percent and power theft was also alarming.
He thanked the coalition partners and his party leadership including Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others for their guidance and support and for reposing confidence in him in the National Assembly.
He also lauded Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate for amicably running proceedings of the Parliament.
‘Not establishment’s man’
Addressing a gathering earlier in the day, the premier rejected the impression that he was the establishment's man, saying “people taunt me, calling me the establishment’s man. But this doesn’t bother me. Why? Because I did not intend to get any personal gains,.
Sharif said the coalition partners would take the country forward together, adding there doesn’t need to be a complete unanimity on every issue but through consultations, we will set targets and priorities.
The impression came after the Army chief accompanied the prime minister at different occasions in the past few days.
