| Imran Khan says govt will try to bring Nawaz Sharif back under international laws | Admits extradition is a lengthy process | Chairs meeting for promotion of knowledge economy

ISLAMABAD   -  Prime Minister Imran Khan said he would be turned good for the opposition parties if he gives an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to their leaders in corruption cases.

Talking to a private TV channel, the prime minister said the opposition parties could hold a long march but the people would never take to streets to protect their corruption. In Lebanon, South America and Iraq, the people took to the streets against the corruption of their leaders, not to protect that, he remarked.

Referring to the Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif, he said having laundered public money, he was sitting abroad along with his sons, nephews and brother-in-law, and expected the people in Pakistan to protest for him.

He said the government would try to bring Nawaz Sharif back as there were international laws allowing that, though the extradition was a lengthy process. He said the people were aware of the government’s efforts to turn around the economic situation, which were also coming to fruition in the form of boost in exports and textile industry.

The people, he said, also knew that the incumbent government had inherited the a debt-burdened country. 

About the opposition’s refusal to accept Justice (retd) Azmat Saeed as head of the Broadsheet committee, Imran Khan said they were habitual of accepting only their favourite judges.

Kashmir now heads towards freedom

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed the hope that Kashmir will now head towards freedom as Indian designs to crush the Kashmiri people through unilateral actions of August 5 last year have also failed.

“They (India) decided to crush the Kashmiris on August 5, 2019, who rather stood more resolute and firm. They (India) cannot suppress the Kashmiri people for long,” the prime minister said 

Imran Khan said no one could suppress a population for long as evident from history. When a nation decides to achieve freedom, no force can oppress them, he added. He said the world had understood the seriousness of Kashmir issue, which was raised at international level, including the United Nations Security Council. “That is why I am hopeful, it will now move towards freedom,” he reiterated.

Commenting about the revelations of EU DisinfoLab, the prime minister said India had a clout abroad for being a big country and market. It tried to isolate Pakistan but contrarily, the country had got unprecedented international acceptability as compared  to the past.

To a question, the prime minister said he was unsure whether the Biden administration would indulge in the mediation of Kashmir dispute, as offered by his predecessor Donald Trump. However, he added, the sanity had prevailed in the world vis-à-vis the issue. After 50 years, the issue was discussed by the UNSC thrice, which showed that it had become an international issue.

He said it was now difficult for India to prolong its atrocities as the world was witnessing the situation. Pakistan had offered talks to India provided it restored the Article 370 to revive the special status of the territory. 

Academia-market linkage

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday while stressing on vocational training and skill development said imparting modern skill training could better help explore youth’s potential.

Chairing a meeting for promotion of knowledge economy in the country, the prime minister said technical and professional training should be designed in accordance with the market’s needs besides building a strong linkage between educational institutions and the market.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, secretaries of planning and education ministries, head of Prime Minister’s Task Force on Science and Technology Dr Attaur Rehman, Professor Shoaib Khan, Professor Nasir Khan and senior officers attended the meeting.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood apprised the meeting of the various initiatives for promotion of knowledge economy in the country while Dr Attaur Rehman put forward proposals to promote artificial intelligence, biotechnology and other sciences. Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the country’s future was linked with the promotion of education. 

He said as a considerable size of country’s population comprises youth, their potential could be utilized only by equipping them with modern sciences. Calling the promotion of education as government’s priority, Imran Khan said it would play its full part to accomplish the goal.

He said the government’s educational reforms were not merely meant to elevate the education standards but also inculcate high moral values in the students’ personalities. Moreover, the purpose of introducing subject of Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) in higher classes was to acquaint the students with the Islamic teachings.\867

PM holds talks with crown prince Abu Dhabi

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday had a telephone conversation with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and discussed the bilateral and regional ties as well as the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The two leaders reaffirmed the existing close fraternal relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and reiterated the resolve to further solidify and strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relationship, a press release issued by Prime Minister office said. 

They also exchanged views on COVID-19 pandemic and regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, agreed to continue working closely for enhancing bilateral ties as well as cooperation in multilateral organizations.\867