FAISALABAD    -   Federal Interior Minister Rana Sana Ullah Khan said that as­semblies would complete their constitutional tenure and general elections would be held in October 2023.

Addressing a workers’ convention in Kabotranwala Chowk Ghulam Muhammad Abad here on Sunday night, he said that economy was mak­ing tremendous progress in 1998 and the other countries were trying to copy the Paki­stan model. He said that India had conducted atomic explo­sions on 11 May 1998 adding that Pakistani nation was very much perplexed in that situa­tion but the then prime minis­ter Nawaz Sharif conducted six atomic explosions in response to the 5 explosions of India to neutralize the situation and make a strategic balance in the subcontinent. At that time, it was the worldwide opinion that after becoming an atomic power Pakistan would emerge as a leading economic power, he added. He said that PML-N again got power in 2013 when the country was facing acute shortage of electric­ity coupled with terrorism. However, Nawaz Sharif tack­led these issues through his visionary leadership and put the country on road to prog­ress and prosperity. 

Nawaz Sharif also initiated a number of development programmes including launch of mega project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but Imran Khan dam­aged Nawaz Sharif govern­ment which was an economic suicide of the country. If the CPEC was completed in its scheduled time till 2021, we would have attained dollar prosperity without depend­ing on foreign assistance, he added. He further said that CPEC was also a project that it would accelerate the eco­nomic activities and create maximum job opportuni­ties in addition to eliminat­ing unemployment from the country. He said that PML-N had also launched a pipeline project which was abandoned by Imran Khan’s government due to which the country was now facing shortage of gas. 

He said that Imran Khan was dubbing his opponents as thieves but at the same time he himself was caught red handed by pilfering precious wrest watches in addition to stealing many more gifts from Toshakhana. The act of Imran Khan landed Pakistan into very difficult stage, which not only damaged country’s rela­tions with the friendly states but also made a joke to Paki­stan at the global level. “Imran Khan is taking to wind up the assemblies, which is an un­constitutional and undemo­cratic act and we cannot sup­port him but we are ready to face if such situation is creat­ed in the country”, he said and added that the people should realize his nefarious designs and reject him with the power of their votes. Rana Sana also congratulated the Christian community on Christmas. He said that this day (December 25) was also important for the nation as it was birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and also birthday of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Later, the interior min­ister also cut three cakes in connection with Christmas, birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and birthday of Nawaz Sharif.