F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Wednesday that the government was ready to issue an emergency travelling document to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif within 24 hours if he wished to return to Pakistan.
The minister made the offer in the backdrop of former president and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s demand for return of Nawaz Sharif during a meeting of Pakistan Democratic Movement that held the other day to discuss the issue of en masse resignations from the Parliament.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad, Sheikh Rashid said both the government and ministry of interior had never created any hurdle in passport renewal process of Nawaz Sharif rather he himself did not bother to approach the authorities concerned. Sheikh Rashid declared that opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) can never defeat Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sheikh Rashid also welcomed the PDM decision to postpone long march amid rising coronavirus cases in the country and the upcoming holy month of Ramazan and said the Interior Ministry did not create any hurdles in their way.
“I wanted Ramazan to remain peaceful. My prayers were thankfully listened to,” he said, adding the country’s political temperature has dropped.
He further said that he had predicted earlier that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be deceived. The minister added that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has made a political decision. He also claimed that there are two mindsets even in the PML-N.
Sheikh Rashid also listed few steps taken by his ministry which included online issuance of visa for 192 countries, increasing the validity of the passport for 10 years and recalling of NADRA officers from all countries back to Pakistan.
He said the guarantee of life and death of the former premier cannot be given as that lay with God.
“Nawaz Sharif’s passport has expired. We will do whatever we are authorised to do,” he said.
The minister invited the PDM members to come to the National Assembly and take part in the legislation of electoral reforms.
“The PDM cannot defeat [PM] Imran Khan as he is a political heavyweight,” he said. “The opposition had not left any corner of the country where it has not held a rally in six months, while PM Imran postponed his rallies due to rise in pandemic cases,” Sheikh Rashid added.
Moreover, the interior minister informed that Pakistanis would soon be able to apply for visas to Kuwait – the service had been closed since 2011.
