Rawalpindi: Home Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Monday that Prime Minister Imran Khan never talked about imposition of emergency or presidential system during cabinet meetings.
Sheikh Rashid said that nothing would happen in the dharna and long march, Maulana Fazlur Rehman was more eager to come as other parties were well aware of the intensity of the situations.
He said, "Maulana will reach in the evening what will be the weather condition, what will be the situation of coronavirus and what will be the situation till now, adding that Maulana Fazlur Rehman's long march will fail."
He said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should come on February 27 when the weather would clear up. He said that the government has one and a half year left and when one is in the government, time passes very fast. He said that the salary of government employees should be increased.
Speaking to media persons in Rawalpindi after visiting the under-construction Mother and Child Hospital, Sheikh Rashid also expressed his ignorance about a possible reshuffle in the federal cabinet, saying that no one had contacted him regarding the change in his portfolio. However, Rashid said that he has not been contacted yet and if anyone contacts him, he will give his suggestions in the matter.
Regarding the bailout package of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan is not fond of going to the IMF. "We have sought 23 bailouts from the IMF to revive our economy," he said.
Referring to the passage of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, the minister said that in three years not a single government resolution was defeated in the Senate despite a majority of the opposition.
He said the opposition has failed miserably and even their possible no-confidence motion against the prime minister will not succeed. He said that the opposition should know that 14 or 15 of its members are supporting Imran Khan.
Speaking about the terrorist incidents, he said that terrorism has increased all over Pakistan, especially in Balochistan. He said that the army along with the people of Pakistan will end this wave of terrorism.
The minister also said that the government will celebrate Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 with rallies across the country. On the US-China rivalry, he said that Pakistan wants relations with both the countries. "China is Pakistan's all-time friend while America is a global power," he said. "China has no problem with Pakistan going to the IMF," Rashid said, adding that Beijing understands Pakistan's economic situation.
Sheikh Rashid said that the armed forces supported by the entire country will face the threat of terrorism. He said that our security forces have made immense sacrifices to eliminate terrorists.
Responding to a question about the upcoming local government elections, the interior minister said that PTI will fully participate in them but the success is in the hands of Almighty Allah.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will soon lay the foundation stone of Nala Leh project in Rawalpindi. Regarding Afghanistan, the Home Minister said that the world community should come forward to help the Afghan people financially.