PM describes verdict as defeat of BJP govt, 'internal mafias'

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday termed Supreme Court's decision as a defeat of India's racist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the 'internal mafias who want to destabilize Pakistan to protect their wealth stashed abroad.'

Addressing the concluding session of a two-day Envoys' Conference titled "Engage Africa" at the Foreign Office, the Prime Minister termed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) led opposition's protest and the way its recent sit-in and the case of COAS extension in Supreme Court were celebrated in India, as an attempt to destabilize Pakistan.

"An attempt was made to destabilize Pakistan, first through the sit-in, then the way our enemies portrayed and celebrated in India. Then, the case in the apex court...I am happy to see [their defeat] the way they were hoping to destabilize Pakistan, especially in India because it is for the first time Kashmir issue is internationalized which was never raised before 1965," he said.

He also lashed out at the opposition, saying that unfortunately, 'our own people' tried to destabilize the country [through sit-in] due to which the entire focus from Kashmir shifted to backburner. "Who was the most happiest? The racist BJP government of India," he added.

First the BJP government was celebrating the sit-in, he said, adding that they were hoping that Pakistan's institutions would clash with one another. "But democracy of Pakistan is becoming a mature democracy. Now, there is a democratic culture and mindset flourishing. The institution which if anybody was hoping to clash, will never confront with each other and all the institutions have started working within their own [constitutional] ambits and they respect each other," PM Khan added.

The Prime Minister said his party's number one plan is an independent judiciary, adding that his party was on the forefront in the 2007 judicial movement. "I even went to jail during that movement," he added.

"We will always strengthen our institutions; we will support our judiciary and I believe that the harmony that exists among our institutions today is unprecedented due to which the India's BJP government is frightened and our internal mafias who have stashed their wealth abroad and want the country to destabilize so that their wealth is secured. All of them have met with the defeat and they will have to see the defeat in future as well," he said, adding that Pakistan is a country that has come out of a difficult time and no power can stop it from moving forward.

Referring to the economic situation, he said the most critical things to deal with the current account deficit are to improve exports, remittances and bring investment to the country.

To deepen bilateral relations and cooperation with African nations, he said that President Arif Alvi will soon be visiting Africa to engage with the African nations, adding that he would also be visiting many African countries later.

He said that neglecting Africa reflects a mindset, adding when he met the African leader Nelson Mandela, he was appreciating Pakistan and idolizing Quaid-e-Azam for their independence struggle.

The Prime Minister said that it is time to concentrate focus on the African region and asked Pakistan's missions to utilize their full potential to bring investment and remittances to Pakistan and enhance exports.

He said now things have changed and the PTI-led government is pursuing an independent foreign policy in the best interest of Pakistan. He emphasized on improving performance of the press attachés abroad for better communication to ensure better understanding between Pakistan and other countries.

He said his government believes in meritocracy without which no society can progress. The Prime Minister insisted that there is a 'total meritocracy' in Pakistan at present, adding that meritocracy is an essential component of democracy. He lamented that because of lack of merit, Pakistani institutions had been caused great damages in the past.

He said the government has appointed an 'outstanding diplomat' Munir Akram to represent Pakistan in the United Nations.

Imran Khan said now Pakistan is playing a reconciliatory role among various countries like Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan has now better relations with all countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Malaysia.

The Prime Minister also instructed the envoys abroad to consider themselves as 'missionaries' for promoting Pakistan's image abroad.

Addressing the conference, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "'Engage Africa' is our necessity not only for economic gains, but also we need their support for the Kashmir cause as well as other issues on international fora."

He pointed out that there are a number of MoUs signed with many African countries, but these are limited only to papers.

On the exports to African countries, he said that unfortunately Pakistan has only 0.35 percent exports to Africa and these are shrinking. "It is shocking that we have only 0.35 percent exports in a continent which has a future," he said, adding that on the other hand India has 6.9 percent exports and those are growing.

He said that Pakistan's imports from Africa are high, adding that the country is importing coal from South Africa, LNG from Nigeria and tea from Kenya. He pointed out that Pakistan has an opportunity of exporting rice to Africa which, he said, is the bigger market than China.

Additionally, he added that Pakistan can also export pharmaceutical items to Africa which has a $ 2 billion market. He pointed out that Pakistan is producing cheaper tractors than China and others in the region which also has a good market in Africa. He further said that there are also opportunities to expand cooperation with Africa in defense production.

He said the objective is economic stability, a shift from an inward to outward-looking economy and to double the exports to the African continent over the next five years. The Ministry of Commerce has decided to organize an investment conference in Nairobi next year, adding that the Foreign Office will extend all its support for the success of the conference.

The foreign minister said that he has given clear directions to the Foreign Office for pursuing economic diplomacy, adding that it is need of the hour and also an important component of the country's national security to be economically stable.

He said that 15 ambassadors of Pakistan posted in the African countries are present in the two-day deliberations. He maintained that the new 45 trade and investment officers are also present whot have been selected on merit through transparent way and no objection was made by the PM Office on a single candidate.

Qureshi also announced that a state-of-the-art Foreign Services Academy is being constructed and the already existed setup is being shifted to the old Chinese embassy which the Chinese government has not only gifted but is also constructing at their expense. At Foreign Services Academy, he said that so far 700 diplomats from 52 African countries have been trained.

Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said the government's vision is to double trade with the African countries in the next five years which currently hovers between $ 3 and $4 billion.

He said that Pakistan's exports to Africa have risen to over $1 billion. He said, "Our locally manufactured tractors are making their way in several African countries including Mozambique and Angola."