Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that his elected government's term might be extended for one more year as such extension had been granted to the governments during dictatorial era. He expressed these views in an interview with Aaj News anchor person Asma Shirazi in her programme 'Faisla Aap Ka' on Monday. He said there was no vagueness on holding elections on time. He said he was trying that the government must complete its term ie June 1 and there should be elections within 60 days after expiry of elected government's term.

He said if he were asked, he would propose the name of Shahbaz Sharif for Prime Ministerial slot. However, it was premature to say anything because the central executive committee of the party would decide about it after PML-N wins elections. He criticized those planning to win the Senate election through horse-trading. To a question, he said, there is no competition between Pakistani Gwadar port and Iranian Chabahar port.

"Our troops have been training Saudi forces for last 30 years and they have been already stationed there with reduction or increase from time to time," he said, asserting that Pakistan would not become part of war of any country. He said sending troops to other country is a normal practice and government didn't need to take parliament into confidence on this issue. Troops were also sent to other countries, he said.

He also defended his predecessor Nawaz Sharif and his government's policies. He said he never criticised the judiciary but some of their judgments could be wrong. He said July 28 (2017) verdict was implemented and whether it was right or wrong verdict, it would be decided in general elections. He said judiciary and parliament have equal respect. He said he had talked of constitutional limits of institutions because the country had suffered a lot whenever the institutions crossed their limits. He said controversial decision (against Nawaz) had no legal precedence.

Asked if Nawaz Sharif could be arrested, he said, Nawaz was ready for that. He said Nawaz appeared before the courts but no one could furnish any evidence of corruption against the thrice elected prime minister. On the question of placing Nawaz name in ECL, he said, government and NAB were doing their respective jobs. Prime Minister Abbasi wished Imran Khan well on his third marriage saying his private matter should not be made part of media debate.

On differences of Chaudhry Nisar with Maryam Nawaz, he said that the two persons have different status because Maryam was neither MNA nor a PML-N office holder. He said Nisar would never quit the party.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018