PIA a liability worth Rs 450 billion, no other option except to privatise it: PM
Shares
ISLAMABAD: The prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while talking to a private TV Channel responding to a query emphatically rejected any anti-judiciary tirade on part of the government. He said the judicial verdicts or judiciary could not be ridiculed as there were constitutional provisions to this effect and if anyone had ridiculed, it was unacceptable.
He said the parliamentary body after getting majority in the upcoming general elections would take decision over the nominee for the prime minister’s office.
He said that he was elected by the party members in the parliament for the office of prime minister after the judicial verdict which had disqualified former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.
The prime minister said there was no confusion over his stance about party president Nawaz Sharif. During the last five months after assuming his office, he did not get any dictation or instruction from Nawaz Sharif.
To a question, he said the history and public would judge the decision of the court about disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. In democratic system, the decisions were taken by the electorate at the polling stations, he added.
The prime minister maintained that convictions were made on the basis of evidences and expressed his hope that the courts would function in fair manner.
Defending the contract for import of LNG, he said that he took the complete responsibility over it. It was the long term contract with the lowest rates throughout the world.
About national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, he said there was no other option except to privatize it as the nation no longer could afford Rs 450 liability. This year, its losses amounted to Rs 42 billion.
