Govt will accept verdict over Panama Leaks: Ahsan Iqbal

KARACHI: While addressing a conference at the Jinnah University for Women, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would accept the verdict over the Panama Leaks. He was addressing students on the role of women in Pakistan's economy.

He further added that the prime minister had clearly shared his statement with the public and other stakeholders over the issue and the federal government strongly believed that this whole case was only based on accusations. "There are no solid evidences regarding the matter," he said. "This is why, there is no need for the PM to resign."

The federal minister, who had avoided political talk on his visit to the University of Karachi earlier, shed some light on the ongoing issues and political developments. He blamed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had no evidence but they were only making hue and cry over the Panama Leaks.

Answering a question about removing the longest serving governor, he said that Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui would perform his duties with command and the newly-appointed provincial governor was a noble man.

He claimed that the PML-N was enjoying 'good working' relationship with the former governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and mentioned that the provincial chief minister was a dynamic person.

He stressed that the country should come out of internal disputes so that Pakistan could move in the right direction. "For the sake of the country's development, everyone should think about positive progress and wait till the 2018 general elections."

He also claimed that the federal government wanted to give an equal chance to all the political forces of Sindh, including Karachi, to play their due role in development of the region. "The federal-led government is not sidelining any political party in Karachi and it is not against any of them. I will not comment agaiany party. The scenario of 2018 is now getting clearer by every passing day and the people should remain patient."

Earlier, in his speech, Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that reading habit is on decline in the society. This is an era of internet but people do not use it for reading purposes. "Every nation depends on quality education to get success and those who do not adopt the latest technologies in due time cannot grow," he remarked. He expressed that the time of industrial revolution was now over. "This is a time of research and innovation and only education can take us in the right direction," he said.