PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that under the constitution, the army should to stand by the elected government.
Addressing a news conference Islamabad on Thursday, Fawad Chaudhry said that a systematic campaign is being launched against the army. Talking about the no-confidence motion, he said, “We are confident on the issue of no-confidence. We currently have 179 members of the National Assembly. We will also get additional votes. We have the support of five opposition members”.
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He said that the government wants good relations with the United States and the European Union but that does not mean that we should enslave our foreign policy and compromise on our self-esteem and national interests.
Replying to a question regarding the Chief Minister of Punjab, the minister said that Chief Minister of Punjab is in the post for two reasons – the confidence of Imran Khan and the confidence of the Punjab parliamentary party. Earlier, the Chief Minister himself had offered his resignation to Prime Minister but it was rejected. He said that right the government is focused on the issue of no-confidence motion.
During the press conference, the Information Minister criticized Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, played some old TV footage of press clippings. He said that the opposition wants reforms for their benefits. He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari want to keep the army under control like the Punjab police. The minister also accused the leading opposition political party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz of anti-Pakistan policies and secret meetings with Indian officials in the past.
He said that the PTI has the support of all its MNAs and the opposition has to bring 172 members to the assembly on voting day. He said that the speaker will take final decision to convene the meeting of National assembly.