PM Abbasi hints at amending Article 62 of Constitution

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday hinted at bringing an amendment in Article 62-1(f) of the Constitution, which requires a public representative to be "Sadiq and Ameen" (truthful and honest).

Speaking to anchorperson Hamid Mir on Geo News' 'Capital Talk', Abbasi said his party, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will decide whether he was to stay as premier for 45 days or longer.

He said that Nawaz Sharif proposed his name for the prime minister and everyone extended his support in its favour.

The prime minister said his government, together with the opposition, may bring a constitutional amendment bill to make amends to Article 62. 

The Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif under the same article.

He said Nawaz Sharif has directed him not to come to Punjab House, however, added that he would go there.

"Upon reaching there, I would do as asked by Nawaz Sharif," he added.

'Cordial ties with Nisar'

Asked about Chaudhry Nisar not being part of his cabinet, he said that he has cordial ties with the former interior minister and Nisar should be considered a member of the cabinet. "Nisar also favoured it, when Nawaz Sharif proposed my name for the premier."

The incumbent prime minister said the ministries of petroleum and power have been merged; there was an extreme need for Ministry of Water, which we have formed.

Speaking of Islamabad's ties with the United States, he said the country's relations with Washington need to be further improved, while its ties with Russia witnessed improvement after a long time.

'Sharif's rally not a protest'

Commenting on Sharif's journey back home via GT Road, PM Abbasi said security concerns are everywhere, adding, "one has to face such circumstances, if one is to stay in politics".

"The more popular a leader, the more security risks he has. Conspiracies are fought through politics and public service," he said, adding that PML-N lawmakers wished Nawaz Sharif to tour their respective areas in the form of a rally.

Labelling Sharif's disqualification as a "major setback," the premier said the next election in the country would be held on its due time and expressed hopes for his party's win in 2018 elections.

He stressed that "Sharif's rally is not a protest against anyone, saying the former prime minister is just going to home".

'Conspiracy'

Without naming anyone, Abbasi reiterated that a conspiracy was hatched to derail the (democratic) process. "Anything that could harm the country would be considered a conspiracy. Those who do not want Pakistan to progress they conspire."

He went on to say that political parties should also agree on a "charter of economy", adding, "Today, politics of abuse has become common, but the people dislike it".

The prime minister maintained that a common citizen should not have automatic weapons. He gave example of the US saying even there citizens are allowed to carry automatic arms, despite having right to carry a weapon.

Towards the end, he claimed that there would be no more power outages in the country after November 2017.