ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday invited the opposition to sit with the government and hold negotiations regarding the use of the electronic voting machines. He said our ministers are talking about the Election Commission of Pakistan, adding that it is the decision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan and federal cabinet to get pass the bill from assembly regarding the use of the EVM and next elections should be held through EVM. He said that the opposition has announced 52 public gatherings it means the opposition has started the preparations for the next elections. Sheikh Rashid said that what is pain to India over his border visit, adding that his border visit is for peace and not for war, adding that India has only two things one Sheikh Rashid and second Taliban. He said that the enemy wants to harm Pakistan through hybrid war and international media. He said that all the Pakistani borders are safe and there is not tension anywhere.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after chairing a high level meeting at the interior ministry, Sheikh Rashid commented on New Zealand Cricket’s decision to pull out of Pakistan at the eleventh hour and said that Pakistan tasked more security personnel to ensure the foreign team’s safety than their forces combined. The minister raised the question of the supposed threat alert to the New Zealand team and asked: “Where were these five countries that issued the threat alert when the security experts were visiting Pakistan and the team was practising on the same ground?”
He was referring to the five-nation intelligence report on the basis of which the New Zealand government called the tour off. Highlighting the capability of Pakistan’s intelligence, Sheikh Rashid informed the media that Pakistani intelligence agencies are one of the strongest agencies and most smart agencies in the world and they had no threat alert. He said that it was proved that whatever email came it came after the departure of New Zealand team.
Responding to the Opposition’s criticism on the return of the New Zealand team, the minister said: “Don’t throw stones at others while living in a glasshouse. A day will come when all international teams will come to play in Pakistan.”
The minister also shed light on other issues, including the issue of identity cards and passports, elections, and the situation in Afghanistan. He said that those individuals who are in possession of two identity cards or passports should return one to the government by October 31.
As for the situation in Afghanistan, Sheikh Rashid said that the Pakistani forces have successfully evacuated 16, 000 people from the country. “Meanwhile, 4, 000 people have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan via the Torkham and Chaman borders, ” he said while sharing details with the media.
Sheikh Rashid maintained: “We have only one narrative, and that is to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan has conveyed this message at the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO’s) Heads of State Summit in Tajikistan.” He recalled that the prime minister had also expressed his intent during his Tajikistan visit to speak to the Taliban for forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan is an important country of the region and efforts are being made for its security and prosperity. He said India is resorting to propaganda against Pakistan following failure of its machinations in Afghanistan.
Responding to a question, Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan has not set up any refugee camps on its land. “I visit the border, not for war but to establish peace, ” he reiterated.
Answering another question related to the Opposition, the federal minister said that whenever elections take place in the country, the Opposition starts crying foul about rigging. “Our Opposition is an under-19 team and has started preparing for the elections, ” he said, implying that the Opposition is politically immature.
Sheikh Rashid said that the government resolved issues with Maulana Abdul Aziz through dialogue, as it wanted the situation in the capital to remain normal. He said that there were several cases against Maulana Aziz but the government wanted the situation in the capital to remain normal. “That’s why we keep talking to them, ” he said, adding that Maulana Aziz had an issue every other day. “Every day he has an issue and every day we try to resolve it, ” he said, adding that there were 511 madrassahs and 1, 000 mosques in the capital. “Out of 511, we have issues with only one which we resolve through dialogue.”
Without naming the entity he was referring to, the minister said that the government had made such efforts with another religious organisation. “However, the result of that was not a good one, ” he said.
Commenting on the security measures taken for Chehlum processions, Sheikh Rashid said that the Pakistan Army, Rangers and civil armed forces would be deployed to assist the provinces. He said mobile phone services will also be suspended at the request of provincial governments.
Regarding local body elections in Islamabad, the interior minister said that local body elections in Islamabad will now be held in 100 wards instead of 50. He added that this was approved by the federal cabinet.