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ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that the purpose of the real protests in Islamabad was to cause economic upheaval in Pakistan and to undermine the projects the government was working on for the provision of cheap electricity to the people, DawnNews reported.
The minister was addressing a press conference in the federal capital where he said that the country had been made to suffer a gigantic loss of billions of dollars because certain elements were only focused on enhancing their political gains.
Asif laid the blame on the protesting parties — Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) — for the country's economic degradation and said that the protests were an attempt to derail ties between Pakistan and China.
Also read: Chinese whispers
Earlier, the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan had been cancelled in light of the protests in Islamabad.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) had blamed PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Tahirul Qadri's protests in the capital for the cancellation of the Chinese president's visit. Following the cancellation of the visit, India rolled out the red carpet for the Chinese president on his maiden visit to the neighbouring country.
More on this: ‘Govt itself responsible for visit cancellation’
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (30) Closed
Oct 17, 2014 01:21pm
please some one put tape on his.mouth...He speak rubbish when ever he open his mouth
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Oct 17, 2014 01:24pm
Asif, Pakistan suffers more when the prime minister of the poorest nation in the world travels abroad and stays at the most expensive hotels in the world.
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Oct 17, 2014 01:44pm
You can not blame your incompetence on others. I remember when last time NS was kicked out from power there were only 500 million dollars in national reserves. This corrupt clan has the habit of looting the motherland and amassing huge amounts for themselves.
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Oct 17, 2014 01:45pm
I love Pakistan and believe it deserves better leaders than the one being quoted here. Our Defence Minister has never said anything intelligent and having seen some of the most intelligent people in our armed forces, why is it that we keep selecting these kind of people to lead our armed forces (and several other government departments). As someone smart once said "if you don't say anything, no one would know how stupid you are". Dare I say more?.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:08pm
What about BIlawal Zardari's political stunt scheduled for tomorrow? An entire city, the largest economically in the country, paralyzed and held hostage by it's own provincial government in order to facilitate one political party!
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Oct 17, 2014 02:14pm
For God's sake, stop changing your statements all the time. Such is the competence level of our government ministers that they cannot even have a consistent narrative.
First, the protests were brought about by the establishment (read army) to dislodge the government. Then according to Abid Sher ali, the protesters were against the army. Then there was an international conspiracy hatched in London with the help of America, CIA and Canada (dont know why they left out Israel and India) that by the way also included Governor Sarwar. Please stop this nonsense.
Keeping aside IK's demand for resignation, the real question is what steps have you taken to address real and present challenges such as electoral reforms, energy crisis, improving governance etc? Or you are waiting for the protesters to go home first?
And why not even a single person has been indicted yet in the Model Town massacre after more than 4 months?
What gives?
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Oct 17, 2014 02:14pm
Had there been quick response to allegations of polls rigging in terms of fair and independent investigations things would not have come to where they are today. Who is responsible for that?
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Oct 17, 2014 02:21pm
Need to make correction:
Islamabad protests were aimed at causing downfall to NS government corruption.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:21pm
"Islamabad protests were aimed at causing economic upheaval"
Khawaja sb, please include PM's expensive foreign visits, 2400 cc Mercedes to AG, and closing of NAB cases against the ROYAL FAMILY etc etc in your calculation of "Enonomic Upheaval"
The fact is, that PMLN NIAT is not correct and that's why you are in trouble in all the 3 times in Federal Govt
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Oct 17, 2014 02:25pm
Who stops to visit your office? Who stops you take actions against theft of electricity? Who stops you to make agreements with China. Everywhere your PM goes and wastes public money. If he visits China for investment no one will stop him. You were so incompetent that you could not resolve political issues. How could you bring investment? Don't blame others for your incompetence.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:31pm
What's interesting is that the govt claims that there are only 50 people or so at the dharna. And a mere 3000 at the rallies.
So just a few thousand people are costing the govt billions and trillions of dollars? The govt can't handle a few thousand people?
It's the govt that's incompetent and inept!
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Oct 17, 2014 02:33pm
Being a defence minister, you should not be talking on financial subjects. Mind your own business Mr Khawaja.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:35pm
What about the 4 constituencies Mr. Minister?
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Oct 17, 2014 02:47pm
PML (N) have totally failed to offer any sort of relief to the masses and now they are looking for lame excuses the people sitting in protests at D chowk in any way or at any stretch of thoughts do not hamper any economic activity they are not sitting in front of Karachi Port or at any industrial area or financial market etc.
One day PML (N) ministers will say that protest at Islamabad is an hurdle between holding Local Government Elections which are due for the last five years they are hurdle in holding census which has to be completed in 2008, they are hurdle in filling more than 40 positions of different important departments they are hurdle in Accountability process, they in building dams etc.....
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Oct 17, 2014 02:53pm
You could have said the billions by simply opening the 4 constituencies. You can still get the Chinese 'investment'(loan) by agreeing to Election result audit.
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Oct 17, 2014 02:59pm
Liars. PML Nooras should have listened to Imran when he was following the protocols and asking for judicial review of rigging in four constituencies. They did not. PML noora group should be credited for the popularity of PTI. NA-149 results must have started giving Mr Shareef and Mr Zardari bad dreams. I know it is time for us Pakistanis to change the system. Let's think before we vote next time!
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Oct 17, 2014 03:00pm
Mr Minister Wrong! It is aimed to let you and your party know that we will not allow further Economic rape of the Country by any one anymore. Why is there this mentality that you have been elected to serve yourself and not the people. What gives you the right to usurp the mandate that you are entrusted with.There are these two words in the English language you may need to find the meaning of as they are currently being exercised against your Government by the People. NO CONFIDENCE AND IMPEACHMENT. We have no confidence in you and you have been Impeached So go home gracefully or you will be sent home for the Third time. Look at your selves and think what is wrong with us that we have been kicked out three times ?
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Oct 17, 2014 03:00pm
No doubt, Islamabad protests are hurting national economy and FDI in a big way, whether someone likes this fact or not.
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Oct 17, 2014 03:13pm
Again, the government only talk about issues that are not important. We do not want to listen about PTI and PAT in each and every parliament session and speech. for God’s sake talk about issues that really matter like poverty, education and terrorism. PML-N led government has done absolutely nothing to improve education in the country, in fact read media articles education budget was reduced in last budget. Similarly, nothing for the poor people as well.
**These politicians are really only brainwashing the public. A free thinking Pakistani public which questions the governments performance is what they fear the most.**
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Oct 17, 2014 03:15pm
i wonder if this is the same man wanted us to pray for rainfall sometime back,to get respite from loadshedding so he was ought to come up with some new nonsense,this time hez saying weather was hot and electricity was consumed by inflated ridden people,if he thinks we are fools or mulls
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Oct 17, 2014 03:26pm
Asif, correction. The sit-ins are there not to cause an economic upheaval, rather, it is is remove an incompetent administration. Many members of whom should not even be there if the ballots had been counted properly.
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Oct 17, 2014 03:26pm
Absolutely correct. Since start of drama, every economic indicator has reversed.
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Oct 17, 2014 03:35pm
Defense minister talks economy. Finance minister dar comments on Loc violation. Army meddling into politics. What is happening here?
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Oct 17, 2014 03:41pm
Don't tell this economy is suffering because of sit-ins. Economy dips because of poor governance. Don't hide your face in the earth. Please, perform something. Give relief to the people of Pakistan.
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Oct 17, 2014 03:49pm
Really does not make sense. The economy is bad due to a long period of mismanagement and plunder and blunders. And the current government does not want nor is it capable of fixing or reforming the country. They will have to go away sooner than later
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Oct 17, 2014 03:54pm
What we do with economy when basic rights of common man are denied! Oh yes i get it now may be the dharnas are hurting our politicians businesses in big way!!!!
Allah inko hidayat de warna puri qaum kay gunha in politicians par laad kar jahannum main phenk day Amee
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Oct 17, 2014 04:01pm
He is trying to fool people but he does not know that he is fooling himself. Pakistani ordinary people are very much matured now.
PML(N)'s agenda is just one, take loan from whatever rate and whoever agree to give as that will be any way pocketed by party members and paid by Pakistani nation. They did the same in the past and doing the same now. They learned no lesson.
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Oct 17, 2014 04:16pm
PML N a party full of Jokers.
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Oct 17, 2014 05:37pm
You guys have been looting the country and its ok then! Give back the money you have stolen from the people of Pakistan first.
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Oct 17, 2014 06:16pm
@Anarchist My friend these people are not in power to do that. They are here to make as much money as possible and in the process tell as many lies as possible
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