Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said that neither the government nor the opposition would accept any delay in general election that is scheduled to be held on July 25. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he said that free and fair elections are necessary for democracy, besides being constitutional requirement, and "we will not allow even a day's delay in the conduct of polls."
The Prime Minister said that a free media is important for a functional democracy and to highlight people's issues effectively. "A lot of experiments have been done in the past and no non-representative government can resolve issues faced by the country," he said. "The government that will come with the will of people will be able to respond to their issues," he added.
The Prime Minister said that it should be seen that free and fair elections are held in the country. Highlighting five-year performance of the government, he said that Pakistan's economy has been revamped and a growth rate of about 6 percent has been achieved.
Pakistan has become an investment destination of all foreign and local investors, he said, adding that radical tax reforms have been introduced and energy crisis is being dealt with due to prudent policies of the government.
The Prime Minister said that confidence of investors improved while the fiscal deficit will remain a challenge for the next government, besides introducing structural reforms for the economy. "We need to increase our exports and our initiatives, thank God, are paying off," he said.
He said the government projects will ensure sufficient availability of electricity by 2030, adding that 114 new gas discoveries were recorded in the PML-N's tenure. Gas is available to every consumer unlike the past and supply of gas will be made available by 2020 through Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the government has ushered in a revolution in internal and regional connectivity. He said that 1700 kilometer-long motorways have either been completed or in completion phase across Pakistan. He said that the first national water policy was approved with consensus and the government has also initiated Mohmand and Diamer-Basha dams to overcome water shortages in the country.
The Prime Minister revealed that the country faces a 60 percent shortage of water and it is need of the hour to build new water reservoirs. Abbasi said that the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC) will offer tremendous trade and economic opportunities for Pakistan which will play an important role in Pakistan's economic growth.
He said that Thar coal is being used for cheap electricity generation. He said that the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also a hallmark of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. About foreign policy, he said the government has never compromised Pakistan's sovereignty. He said that Kashmir issue was raised on every forum and the international community is now accepting Pakistan's viewpoint on Afghanistan that this issue should be resolved according to the will of the people of that country as war is no solution to political issues.
The security situation of the country has greatly improved as valiant soldiers of the armed forces have successfully defeated the menace of terrorism and restored peace in the country. He said that peace has also been established in Karachi which is result of consensus among the political parties and a success story of democracy.
The Prime Minister said that a national truth and reconciliation commission should be established to move forward and there is also a need for dialogue among the institutions.
He thanked the speaker, opposition leader and other lawmakers for their cooperation in running business of the House.
Speaking on the floor, Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that democracy and economy can only be strengthened in Pakistan through education.
He said that he tried his best to take the opposition along on every issue. He said, "All of us should make efforts to strengthen the Parliament and democracy."
"There is a huge difference in bidding adieu to Prime Minister Office with a guard of honor and capturing the PM Office by force," he said, adding that people are still asking questions if the elections will be held on time.
The opposition leader also supported the Prime Minister's proposal of setting up a truth and reconciliation commission as this would help strengthen democracy.
Chief Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that institutions do not accept supremacy of the Constitution as political parties are being broken through telephone calls.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq distributed commendation certificates among all the members while Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi presented shields to the Prime Minister and parliamentary leaders of all parties.
The speaker also informed the House that Lower House passed record 187 laws in last five years. Giving his last speech in the assembly, he said this Parliament has passed 57 new laws, six finance acts, five constitution amendments, three amendments (repeal) and eighty-two amendments were made in existing laws.
He said that for the first time seven acts were passed in joint sitting whereas thirty private bills became laws during the tenure of this assembly. The House also passed 'The President's Salary, Allowances and Privileges (amendment) Bill, 2018.'