PM Shehbaz rules out option of holding early elections

LAHORE, Oct 22 (NNI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday while terming former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan a ‘certified thief’ said that long march will not be allowed to enter in Islamabad.
Addressing a press conference day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified the PTI chairman in Toshakhana reference, the prime minister also ruled out option of holding early elections and said that the general elections were still 11 months away.
He said that Pakistan has come out of the FATF gray list. “I congratulate the entire nation from the bottom of my heart, adding that it was made possible by collective efforts and vision.” “Pakistan has made unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism and it is the success of all individuals, institutions and authorities who worked day and night.”
He said that Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had played a very responsible role. “Yesterday was a lucky day. An important judgment was announced other than the FATF,” he added.
He said that Pakistan faced difficulties in trade and investment when it was placed on the FATF grey list. “Pakistan will get rid of economic problems permanently after being removed from the grey list,” he maintained.
Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, State Minister on Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and the Foreign Ministry officers who strived day and night for the success. He also paid a tribute to COAS Qamar Bajwa for playing a role in the exit from the grey list.
The Prime Minister said that the chairman who used foul language and leveled false allegations against his political opponents, now stood as the certified embodiment of falsehood, dishonesty and deceitfulness.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the decision of the ECP over Toshakhana was not a matter of rejoice, but a matter of retrospection as the person who was continuously indulged in mud-slinging had been proved as a certified thief, liar and dishonest.
Imran Niazi had been found guilty of corrupt practices by the ECP, he said, adding that the person was brought to power with the worst kind of rigging.
PM Shehbaz went on to say that Imran Niazi had illegally sold out the precious gifts given by the friendly countries which brought bad name to the country. He said with the ECP’s decision, his stance had once again vindicated that the false allegations and political witch-hunting against them, during Imran Niazi’s tenure, was a result of NAB-Niazi connivance. NNI