FM Qureshi rules out in-house change in NA

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday rules out any chance of in-house change in the National Assembly, saying that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would complete its constitutional tenure.

Addressing a press conference in Multan, the foreign minister said that the opposition had been wishing in-house change for last three and half year but it would remain their wish only.

Talking about the South Punjab province, he said PTI government was making sincere efforts for creation of South Punjab province as it was the part of paty’s manifesto. However, he said, PTI lacked two third majority in the Parliament which was needed for creation of new province.

FM Qureshi sought constitutional cooperation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in establishing of South Punjab province.

According to the foreign minister, he had written a letter to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and sought their constitutional cooperation for establishment of South Punjab.

Qureshi stated that PTI government was ready to share the credit of South Punjab province with PPP and PML-N. He hoped the leadership of both political parties, PPP and PML N, would respond positively and in-writing.

Qureshi informed that he had mentioned different administrative steps, taken by PTI for empowering south Punjab. Similarly, PTI government had also taken some practical steps including establishment of south Punjab secretariat, ring fenced budget for uplift of the region and many others, said Qureshi.

About economic improvement, the foreign minister stated that the country was heading towards economic uplift. He mentioned the new report of World Bank about economic situation in Pakistan. “Debt to Gross Domestic Production (GDP) also reduced to 72 percent from 83 percent”, informed Qureshi hoping that the situation would improve further in near future.

To another query about PPP tractor march, Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that it was political right of PPP. He however hinted that PTI would also move from Punjab to Sindh.