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PM reluctant to entertain PTI’s ‘strange’ demand
Inclusion of ISI, MI officials in judicial commission* Nawaz says it hasn’t happened in the past, nor will it happen in the future; military institutions should not be involved in politics
LONDON: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s demand of including ISI and MI officials in the judicial commission to probe allegations of rigging in elections ‘strange.’
Speaking to reporters after arriving from Germany, Prime Minister Nawaz emphasised that this had not happened in the past nor would it happen in the future. “Military institutions should not be involved in politics.” The prime minister told reporters he had written a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan to form a judicial commission and it was now up to him (chief justice) whether a commission is formed or not. The prime minister expressed confidence that Germany will invest in Pakistan. He said the international community’s trust on Pakistan is growing.
He said China also reposed full confidence on the government in Pakistan, and pledged a huge investment of over $40 billion in energy and infrastructure development projects. He categorically stated that China is making investment in Pakistan, and is not giving loans. He said The Guardian and other major British media houses are praising the performance of Pakistan government. Nawaz said record upward trend was witnessed in the Karachi Stock Exchange.
He said the government is serious to end shortage of electricity and gas in the country. Nawaz Sharif said the government is undertaking serious efforts to bring the country out of crises, and resolve the energy issue at earliest. He hoped that the electricity crisis would end within the current government’s tenure. He said some people are not liking the sincere efforts being made by the government, and creating problems for it. The sit-ins, he said, have caused huge losses to the country in respect of economy as well as image. The people abroad ask about the sit-ins, and the Pakistanis have nothing to clarify, Nawaz observed.
The prime minister will inaugurate Pakistan-UK Energy Dialogue and Investment Conference in London today (Thursday). According to PM office, the Investment Conference would be attended by chief executive officers and leading figures from the energy sector. The energy conference will focus on assisting Pakistan in seeking investments in addressing its energy needs through sharing expertise and best practices.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that Germany is looking to increase its investment in Pakistan’s energy sector, provided companies are reassured about the security situation. She made the observation during a visit by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Merkel said Germany’s KfW state development bank was already involved in projects in Pakistan including hydro power plants, but added that the security situation was sometimes a deterrent. “We can look at intensifying these (investments), as long as the conditions are right,” Merkel told a joint news conference with Nawaz.
“It is important that the prime minister is successful in improving the security situation and the legal system so that investors feel safe,” said Merkel, adding that the agricultural sector also offered opportunities. Nawaz urged German firms to invest in his country. “Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of energy,” he said. “We believe in the next three years we should be able to have at least additional capacity of about 4-5,000 megawatts of electricity,” he said adding that would increase further in the longer term. Nawaz said German firms were keen to invest.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk