Imran inducted technocrat advisers as per law: Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Monday said many important personalities had discharged vital government responsibilities in Pakistan in the past as well, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Commenting on the dual nationalities of advisers and SAPMs, Qureshi said: “Every government needs technical expertise and the inclusion of such non-elected members with their elected counterparts strikes a healthy balance.”

He said it was the PTI which started the tradition of making the details of assets public on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added in a statement.

Qureshi said the constitution allowed the prime minister to appoint five advisers and such appointments were made in the past as well and Imran inducted the technocrat advisers as per law.

The foreign minister stressed that one would have to rely on law and constitution on the issue of dual nationality.

Law made it clear that no one with dual nationality could become the National Assembly and Senate member but there was no legal restriction with regard to any other office, he said.

According to Qureshi, none of the political parties has formulated a clear policy on tackling with conflict of interest like the PTI so that no one could use his or her office for personal or economic growth.

“In my personal opinion, the representatives elected by the people are of greater status in the democratic tradition because they enjoy the people’s trust,” said the foreign minister.

But Qureshi, at the same time, added that the services of experts were also required to run the state affairs, who could assist the government and that was practiced around the world.