LAHORE, Pakistan: The Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif had already nominated Shahbaz Sharif as the Candidate for Prime Minister’s Office in the next general election and there shouldn’t have been any ambiguity in that regard.
Responding to journalists’ queries after inaugurating the first-ever NADRA Facilitation Desk for the Business Community at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ahsan Iqbal also ruled out holding of general election before completion of constitutional term of the incumbent assemblies.
Ahsan Iqbal said general election could not be held before July 2018 as the new voter lists and new delimitation of electoral constituencies were yet to be completed.
The minister said the elements spreading rumours about early holding of general election were, in fact, conspiring against democracy in the Country. He said all such claims were aimed at formation of a long-time caretaker government in the Country.
However, he added, these elements would face sheer disappointment in the next general election as the people would support the agenda of economic development. He also said there was dire need to get ready for economic revival instead of indulging in sit-ins and negative politics.
In reply to a question, Ahsan Iqbal said the Senate Election would also be held on time.
To another question, the interior minister said ‘on-arrival visa policy’ had existed even before 2013 but it was not clear earlier. However, the incumbent government had ensured transparency in its implementation.
The minister said the Business Community and tourists at large would be facilitated under this policy, and made it clear that security matters in this regard would not be compromised at any cost.
