Outgoing PM Shehbaz hopes interim setup to ensure free and fair elections
Outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
In his farewell address to the nation, outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoped that the caretaker setup will ensure free and fair elections in the country.
He felicitated the interim premier Anwaarul Haq Kakar on assuming the role.
The outgoing premier had come to power in April last year after PTI Chairman Imran Khan was ousted from the top office through a no-confidence vote.
“We came (to power) through constitutional means,” said Shahbaz, referring to the no-confidence motion, adding that his government was contented at the end of its term that his government had not been dishonest in using the powers given to it.
Referring to the nomination of Balochistan Awami Party Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar as the interim premier, Shehbaz congratulated him and said, “He belongs to our great province Balochistan, and I am sure that … he will ensure that free and fair elections are held in the country.”
The premier also expressed gratitude to the nation and leaders of other parties for showing confidence in him to fulfill the responsibility of the country’s chief executive.
He said that 16 months in the government were challenging.
He also recounted the economic achievements of the coalition government but noted that acquiring loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was not ‘something to be proud of’.
The outgoing premier said that opting for elections right after the no-confidence vote – which ousted Imran Khan – had benefitted them politically. However, the direction, he added, would have sunk the country economically.
Therefore, he contended that they preferred to sacrifice their political capital to save the state and prevent it from default.
The outgoing PM termed May 9 incidents as a ‘planned event’ orchestrated by a political party that now stands exposed before the nation. He said that the common man has rendered enough sacrifices, and it was time for affluent people to endure that responsibility. – news agencies and web desk
