People want solution to their economic woes, not elections: Sheikh Rashid
Pakistan
Says if he is jailed, party affairs will be run by Rashid Shafique
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday the masses wanted a solution to their economic woes rather than elections in the country.
Speaking to reporters outside an anti-terrorism court, Rashid said he feared it would become difficult for a party to have a majority of 172 members in the National Assembly after elections.
He said his main case would be heard by the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench on Nov 30. The AML head said the public prosecutor had sought time for arguments in the case. He said his lawyer was ready to advance arguments in the case.
The senior politician said if he was jailed in any case, the party affairs would be run by Rashid Shafique. He said his party would file nomination papers from two National Assembly seats from Rawalpindi. The AML head said people's real problem was electricity bill, house rent and ration.
He was of the view that the people of Pakistan, armed force and judiciary could collectively steer the country out of crises. He asked the people sitting in the power corridors to pay attention to revival of country's economy. He said elections could bring some improvement in country's state of affairs.
However, the new government after elections would face the grave issue of poor economy. The former interior minister said he never recorded any statement under Section 164 against anybody in connection with the May 9 tragedy.
"I underwent 40-day chilla (spiritual seclusion) only because I did not want to issue any statement under Section 164 against anyone," he said. He said he appealed to the army chief and the ISI that the innocent people arrested in the wake of May 9 events should be released.
