ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the opinion, floated by PDM’s Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman about delaying elections in Punjab and KP is his ‘valuable opinion’, and a meeting of the ruling coalition is going to be held soon to discuss this opinion.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday,the interior minister said Maulana Fazlur Rahman’s opinion did carry weight, and under the present circumstances, it was difficult to carry out election campaign. He however said a final decision to hold polls will be made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and not the government.
Responding to a question about economy, the interior minister admitted government’s failure in curbing smuggling of dollars, saying ‘sacks full of US dollars’ were being smuggled out of the country to Afghanistan.
Responding to another question about attempt to arrest PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah said no attempt was made to arrest him, and instead, police only went there to serve him notice. This turned out to be in sharp contradiction of statements given by IG Islamabad to media, and Islamabad Police on Twitter which said they went to Lahore to arrest Khan as per court orders.
Rana Sanaullah said Imran Khan would have to appear in courts, or else he would be ‘produced’ before courts. He said if court acquitted (Khan), “we would accept the verdict.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Rana Sanaullah said a suicide bomber riding bike targeted Balochistan Constabulary convoy in Bolan, who were returning from Sibbi Mela. He said 9 people were martyred and 13 injured, among them were 8 policemen and one civilian. He said the federal government was in constant touch with Balochistan government, and that no one had claimed responsibility as yet., He further said that “we will root out terrorism at the earliest, all promises made to provinces in apex committee meeting are being honored.”
Rana Sanaullah said “our jawans have made sacrifices for peace in Balochistan, every possible step being taken for establishing peace.”
Referring to mishandling of journalists by Islamabad Police, the interior minister termed the incident as very unfortunate, and said whatever the court would decide into the matter would be accepted.
