HYDERABAD: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Maula Bux Chandio has urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to immediately appoint a foreign minister in view of the situation where Pakistan is facing aggression by its neighbouring country and has also to meet certain other external challenges.

“Three and a half years have passed since the [federal] government has taken the reigns of the country but it has failed so far to put a foreign minister in place,” he observed while speaking to the media on Sunday at the residence of Pakistan Peoples Party activist Yasir Talpur in Qasimabad, where All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Hyderabad youth wing president Mudabbar Pathan and some of his friends announced their joining the PPP.

Mr Chandio noted that India was creating a war-like situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir and this summoned an urgency for the appointment of a foreign minister to deal with the external challenge. Renewing his party’s endorsement of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, he said the entire nation stood with Kashmiris.

Repeated his party chairman’s comment that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Raiwind show was good but the timings were not appropriate, Mr Chandio said PTI chairman Imran Khan must take the opposition in the parliament into confidence before taking any step with regard to the Panama Papers leaks scam. A joint drive would certainly be more effective that PTI’s solo flight, he added. He was of the view that the PTI could not make any gains [from the Raiwind march] because of the solo flight.

Describing Mr Khan’s recent sarcastic comment about an invitation to Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Allama Dr Tahirul Qadri to join in the Raiwind march as a bit indecent, Mr Chandio said that Mr Khan should not have ignored ethics in passing remarks.

He also advised Mr Khan not to invite to the podium such people who were known for using an abusive language against political opponents for cheap popularity.

Regarding PTI’s plan to lay a siege to Islamabad after Muharram, he said the PPP had never taken such a step while it was facing a tough time. In reply to a question, Mr Chandio lauded the efforts made by the army, Rangers and police in restoring peace in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. They had rendered great sacrifices, he observed.

Commenting on a major development earlier in the day, when veteran Awami Tehreek chief Rasool Bux Palijo parted ways with his son’s Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Mr Chandio said he had political differences with the senior Palijo but there was no doubt about his statesmanship and political acumen.

Published in Dawn October 3rd, 2016