Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that it was difficult for a government that has “questions on its mandate” to run the country’s affairs.

In an interview with DawnNewsTV, the seasoned politician said the previous PML-N-led government of 16 months did not have a “quarrel on mandate”. “Today, fingers are pointed at the mandate.”

He further said that the “divide” in the country needed to be eliminated, for which the entire political, judicial and military leadership needed to “sit together”.

Abbasi added that time would tell if the current system of the country’s economic matters being decided by the Special Investment Facilitation Council would prove to be fruitful.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...