Govt not in favour of any deal or relaxation: Qureshi

MULTAN, Mar 31 (APP)::Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday the incumbent government was not in favour of deal or relaxation as it strongly believed that things should move forward as per law.

Talking to the media, he said the National Accountability
Bureau (NAB) was an independent institution which was taking
action against corrupt elements without any prejudice.

NAB held PTI, PML-N and PPP members accountable without any
discrimination, he said, adding the government was not
interfering into its matters.

The Foreign Minister said the country was passing
through a critical juncture as India was trying to isolate
Pakistan and put it in black list.

He urged Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif
to avoid narrow thinking and show more responsibility
for country’s interest.

He said there were and would be political differences between PTI
and the two opposition parties but he hoped that both the parties would play their role for development of the country.

Responding to a question, Qureshi observed that the Sindh
government was neglecting its opposition in distribution
of funds and it offered funds to the tune of Rs 200 million
to each Member Provincial Assembly hailing from Sindh government
but ignored parliamentarians from the Opposition.

Similarly, they were also misusing Benazair Income Support
Programme (BISP), he observed.

About demand for changing BISP name, the FM said it was a legal matter, he said adding that he personally was not in favour of changing the name of BISP.

There was nothing in the name but the main thing was performance, that how many people could be benefited from the financial assistance programme, he stated.

Regarding recently launched ‘Ehsas’ programme by PTI
government, Qureshi hoped that it would serve the poor
in amicable way.

About expected raise in petroleum prices, the FM said
raise in petroleum prices at international level also
affects Pakistan.

He said that PTI came into power when the country was passing through financial crisis, adding, the government was trying its best to provide possible relief to masses.

To a question about South Punjab province, Shah Mehmood
Qureshi said south Punjab province was not a slogan but
it was need of the hour.

It was very difficult to run a province having 120 million population, he said and added, the government was committed to resolve the problems of South Punjab.

Regarding by-polls in PP-218, Qureshi observed that PPP
and PML-N had joined hands in the constituency.

Similarly, Bosan family was also supporting PPP in the
constituency, the foreign minister said and added, how strange
that Bosans were supporting Gilani family in the Qadirpur Rawan
in by-election but they were opponent in their old constituency.

The alliance of opposition parties, including PPP and PML-N,
had confused voters as the both were rival in 2018 elections,
he added.