Khaqan Abbasi for open govt-opposition dialogue

SUKKUR: Former prime minister and Awam Pakistan Party chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrived in Sukkur at Qayyum Soomro’s residence on Wednesday, where he met with party workers and dignitaries.

He said that talks between the government and the opposition should not be held behind closed doors but on the floor of parliament.

Abbasi said that neither the government nor the opposition sincerely intended dialogue.

In response to a question, he said that imprisonment has always been a part of the prime minister’s office. “The PTI is demanding the release of its founder from jail. A prison provides good training,” he said.

He remarked that everyone’s political narrative has come to an end. “Which party is out of government today?” he questioned.

The former prime minister said that the current political system cannot bring stability to the country. “In our system, leaders want to rule like kings,” he said.

“This country cannot be governed without democracy,” Shahid Khaqan emphasised, adding that Pakistan had made progress under democratic rule.

“Money came to Pakistan during the regimes of Ziaul Haq and Ayub Khan, but the country did not progress,” he pointed out. He questioned, “Why has the government failed to privatise DISCOs, which are incurring Rs800 billion in annual losses?”

Regarding PIA’s privatisation, Abbasi said, “PIA’s privatisation has become a government hobby, but they still haven’t decided what to sell from the airline.” He also criticised the bureaucracy, saying, “Our bureaucracy has utterly failed.”

He said, “For the last 15 years, we have been selling Senate seats.”

The country will not move forward unless the government engages with the opposition, the former PM said.

“The economic development is impossible in the presence of political anarchy and instability,” he added.

Nizam Uddin Soomro and others joined the Awam Pakistan Party.

Addressing the party members, Abbasi said that the country’s and the public’s problems are increasing due to the inefficient government.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi expressed that there are three parties in power in the country, and it is unfortunate that the governments are not working for the people, leading to an increase in the country’s problems.

He said that when politicians stop selling their conscience, the problems will start to be solved.

Abbasi also mentioned that while in the past, the Constitution used to be amended for the greater good, now it is being changed in the dead of night to benefit only a few individuals.

He concluded by saying that the problems of the people are not being addressed.