LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Nov 2 the people will put an end to the politics of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf that plans to shut Islamabad down.

“I believe that Islamabad will remain open on Nov 2, as the people will close the (chapter of) PTI’s negative politics forever,” he said while responding to journalists’ queries after addressing a ceremony held to distribute laptops among the Government College University (GCU) students here on Saturday.

Mr Iqbal said sarcastically that the PTI’s style of politics had actually benefited the PML-N a lot, as the people continued to express their confidence in the ruling party in various by-elections held during the last one year or so.

“I am personally happy with PTI chief Imran Khan whose politics’ style has raised public confidence in the PML-N in the form of votes, making the party candidates successful in various elections, whether in Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, by-polls or local bodies etc. So if the PTI continues with the same behavior, it will be ultimately benefiting the PML-N in present and future too,” he explained.

He said the political parties’ leadership and others must know that the change in Pakistan would only be possible through ballot and not through force or bullet.

“In Pakistan a democratic system is fully in place and ballot was the only way to bring a change,” he said.

He said no one had the right to shut Islamabad through force. “It is fascism and we will not allow anyone to do so,” he said and added: “When the Supreme Court has started hearing Panama related cases against the PM and others, there should be no protest. And I think the PTI is doing this (protest) to pressurise the honourable court for getting the verdict of its choice.”

The minister said since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had presented himself for accountability, he would also appear before the court after being summoned.

He said since the PM had announced he would honour the apex court verdict on Panama issue, why the PTI wanted to destabilise the country and derail the democracy through such violent protests.

“It’s is nothing but fiction that Pakistan is “sinking”, he said, adding the country had made substantial progress under the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, especially mentioning China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said war against terrorism was in its final phases. “Pakistan requires hope and unity; any internal tension can make the country weak.”

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2016