Any attempt to harm minorities will be responded strictly by state: PM Kakar

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar vowed on Friday to comply with the commitments made by the previous government on national and international levels with different forums, besides ensuring rule of law and financial discipline during the interim period.

“We do not have perpetual mandate to serve the nation but during the given allocated time we will try to lay foundation where we have sense of continuation of national and international commitments that the previous government has made with different forums,” he said while talking to the cabinet members here during the first cabinet meeting of the caretaker government.

He said the minorities would stay protected in this country and any attempt to harm them from a section of marginalized group of people would be responded strictly by the state and the society. "The miscreants might be from us but we must have to divorce them and keep distant from them. Pakistan was created on noble principles and the country was the product of noble idea," he added.

About the May 9 incidents, the prime minister explicitly expressed disappointment and discomfort over the sabotage activities happened on the day. He said attack on the military installation was like the country’s immune system was attacked which could lead towards fatality. “We do not just condemn it but we also will ensure that justice will be done and whosoever violated laws on those days will be treated according to law and there will not be any favour to anybody”.

On Kashmir issue, the prime minister said: “It was the core issue which could not be ignored. It lies in our soul, for us Kashmir is eternal.”

With respect to a new initiative-Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), launched by former government, the prime minister said the caretaker government would fully support it. He said the SIFC is a dream comes true project as Pakistan is an agriculture country and rich with mineral resources. "In fact the SIFC is not a new idea but it is an old national dream that was going to be materialized now. Day has arrived when with the support of all institutions including Pakistan military leadership, we support, facilitate, encourage, and realize this old national dream.”

He said this initiatives was not held by any institution but it was collectively owned by around 25 million people of the country. “We all own it and we will contribute towards it.”

During the meeting, he individually acknowledged the services of all the cabinet members saying “I am very proud that we have got one of the best team." He hoped that the Almighty Allah would enable them to lead and steer this nation during the interim period. “With our utmost duty, may it be a month, two or three, or three and a half, whatever the allocated time is, we will demonstrate through our actions not by our words,” he added.

About the economic situation in the country, the prime minister said he was well aware of the huge economic challenges but with an able team, the government would ensure the financial discipline. “We have a sense of sanctity of tax payers’ money. This money on which we are having today’s meeting, using resources or traveling, is paid by the people of Pakistan.”

He said either it was an ordinary vendor, shopkeeper, teacher, lawyer or any other person, all were contributing in this regard.