ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday hinted at amending Article 63 (f) of the Constitution, which required a public representative to be Sadiq and Amin (truthful and honest).
In a media interview on Tuesday, he said that his party, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), would decide whether he was to stay as premier for 45 days or longer.
“Nawaz Sharif proposed my name for the prime minister’s post and everyone extended his support. My government, together with the opposition, may bring a constitutional bill to amend Article 63 (f),” he said.
To a question about why Chaudhry Nisar was not part of the new cabinet, he said that he had cordial ties with the former interior minister. “Nisar should be considered a member of the cabinet. When Nawaz Sharif proposed my name for the premier, Nisar also favoured it,” he said.
The incumbent prime minister said that the ministries of petroleum and power had been merged. “There was an extreme need for the Ministry of Water, which has now been formed,” he said.
To a question about Pak-US ties, he said that the country’s relations with Washington needed to be improved further. “Our ties with Russia have also improved after a long time,” he said.
To a question about Nawaz Sharif’s journey to Lahore via Grand Trunk Road, PM Abbasi said that security concerns were everywhere. “One has to face such circumstances, if one is to stay in politics,” he said.
“The more popular a leader is, the more security risks he faces. Conspiracies are fought through politics and public service,” he said, adding that the PML-N lawmakers wanted Nawaz Sharif to tour their respective areas in the form of a rally. “The rally is not a protest against anyone. The former prime minister is just going home,” he said.
He said Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification was a “major setback”. The premier said that the next election in the country would be held in due time and expressed hopes for his party’s victory in the 2018 elections.
Meeting with COAS:
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday met Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa for the first time after being elected to the office.
According to a press release issued from the Prime Minister’s Office, Gen Bajwa paid a visit to the newly-elected premier at the PM’s House and discussed professional matters pertaining to the Pakistan Army.
Published in Daily Times, August 9th 2017.
