ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said that all efforts of the Opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan and send his government packing were doomed to fail.  

Addressing a Press conference here at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minister said that PM Imran Khan’s government would complete its five-year tenure as it was facing no threat from the “inefficient” Opposition.

The remarks of Sheikh Rashid came a day after Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said in Karachi that PM Khan’s government was set to fall soon and the Opposition could send this government packing in a day if it moved a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.

The Interior Minister also referred to Wednesday’s meeting of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of Opposition parties, in Islamabad as part of its efforts to revive the alliance and start an anti-government movement and said that “the Opposition was free to do whatever they want to do.”  

“Even if they raise their hand up to the sky with having their feet on the ground and hang themselves in the air, PM Imran Khan will complete its five-year tenure,” he said.

He added that the Opposition was allowed to carry out any democratic activity while remaining in the limits of law and Constitution.

Speaking on the remarks of Bilawal, he said that Opposition party Chairman was only relying on no-confidence motion since the day he came into politics.

“He is misunderstood.”

He said that PDM was free to hold meetings but it should be kept I mind that they had been claiming that the government would be sent home in last December. “You will find Imran Khan in government in upcoming December and in the next budget as well.”

He said that PM Imran Khan was lucky enough to face an “inefficient” Opposition like this.

Sheikh Rashid advised the Opposition that there was no room for domestic politics as this region was going to become a focus of international politics and they will have to go beyond holding political rallies.

The Minister said that Pakistan stood by the slogan of PM Imran Khan that neither they would allow anyone to use their land nor would allow anyone to interfere into their affairs and this slogan had a price to pay and had some difficulties and restrictions to face.

“Pakistan is going to play an important role in international politics and central Asia and due to the reasons, India and National Directorate of Security (Afghan intelligence agency) have started a media war against it but they would face a defeat.”

Sheikh Rashid told reporters that Afghan side has re-opened the Chaman border crossing and traffic has resumed providing some easiness to many stranded trucks carrying goods and fruits.

He said that people from both sides of the border would pass through the crossing in fixed hours on the basis of their respective identity cards while following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) devised by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Responding a question about situation of border management in the wake of Taliban controlling more areas in Afghanistan, he said that all borders have been closed due to Covid-19.

He said that honestly speaking, he didn’t know what conditions have been set to re-open Chaman border crossing. “But Pakistan has fenced 96 per cent border along Afghanistan and 48 per cent along Iran, and Pakistan’s forces are actively performing duties on borders,” he said.

He added that a conspiracy has been hatched to create chaos in Pakistan and the country was facing threats of terrorism incidents.

He said that two holidays including Friday and Sunday were not acceptable for business community of Rawalpindi.

“I’ve talked to NCOC head and Federal Minister Asad Umar to review the decision to fix Friday and Saturday as holidays for the city.

I would also talk to Chief Secretary Punjab in this connection and hope Chief Secretary would accept our demand,” he said.

He warned about alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and urged the people to follow preventive measures.

He also appealed to the mourners to follow SOPs during holy month of Muharram.

On a question of former PM Nawaz Sharif’s medical report submitted in a court stating that he was not fit for travelling, he said that Nawaz’s passport was cancelled on February 16 this year and he did not know what courts would decide about his case.

He also said that that all accused in Noor Mukadam murder case including parents of Zahir Jaffer, the prime suspect, have been placed on Exit Control List (ECL), the no-fly list.

Responding to another question, he said that gone were the days when 100,000 prohibited bore licenses had been issued during last regimes.

The issuance of arms licenses required rules and procedures and conditions, he said.

He said that he had been authorized by the cabinet to issue Prohibited Bore (PB) arms licenses and was in a difficulty over getting this power as “everyone is demanding license of Kalashnikov (rifle).”

He said that PB arms licenses would be issued on merit as long as he was the Interior Minister.

He said that 200,000 people were visiting NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) centers daily to get Covid-19 vaccination certificates and but the same were being issued to 100,000 citizens.

He appealed to the people to come in low number to avoid rush and added that some changes have been made in the vaccination certificate to make it easy for anyone who wanted to get second dose in other country.

He also said that the people of Afghanistan would better decide about their future and Pakistan was facing no influx of refugees at the moment.