Sheikh Rasheed praises PM Imran for ‘standing up’ to USA

July 1, 2021 03:57 PM

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed said on Thursday that he will run election campaign for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) between July 20 and July 25, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking at a function in Rawalpindi, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first leader in the country’s 70-year long history who had stood up to a superpower and refused to hand over air bases to the USA. “The prime minister has made it absolutely clear that Pakistan will be America’s partner in peace, and not in war,” Rasheed added.

He informed that Prime Minister Imran would visit AJK for electioneering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PVMqBDXxEo

The minister said yesterday (Wednesday) the prime minister had extended an olive branch to the opposition on the issue of giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote, adding no political party in the country was opposed to the idea of giving Pakistani expatriates this right. “PM Imran had even offered to the opposition to discuss some other mode of voting if they were not comfortable with the introduction of electronic voting machines.

Rasheed appealed to the people of AJK to stamp on the PTI symbol ‘bat’ on the elections day.

He was of the view that in no other country media was as strong as it was in Pakistan. “Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif are now poles apart when it comes to their brand of politics,” he commented.

The interior minister said it was his desire that there should be no bloodshed in Afghanistan. “Because if there is a civil war in Afghanistan, there will not be peace in Pakistan as well,” he said, and added, “Neither I have a desire that Afghan soil is used against Pakistan.”

He expressed the fear that there were chances that some foreign powers might try to create mischief in Pakistan.

Rasheed rejected the Indian allegation that Pakistan was involved in a drone attack on Jammu. “If you (India) have any proof, give it to us,” he said, and added, “Despite the fact that we are sure India will not want peace in Pakistan, we will not wish the same to India.”