‘Serious concerns’ over judicial system should be addressed: PM Kakar

LAHORE: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday said that there were serious concerns over the judicial system in the country which required to be addressed.

He expressed these remarks while responding to a question during his interaction with the students of the Beaconhouse National University in Lahore.

The prime minister also stressed upon change in behaviour and equal application of laws on all. In a veiled reference to the political history, he said that institutions have been “used and admired” for personal benefits.

کسی بھی ملک میں احتجاج قانون کے دائرے میں رہ کر ہوتا ہے۔ اسلام آباد میں مظاہرین کو قانون کے مطابق روکا گیا۔ مظاہرین کی طرف سے پتھراؤ یا حملے پر قانون اپنا راستہ اختیار کرتا ہے۔ حراست میں لیے گئے افراد کو رہا کر دیا گیا ہے۔

~ نگران وزیراعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی بیکن ہاؤس نیشنل… pic.twitter.com/etr6vuStV8

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2024

“Democracy was in the transitional phase in Pakistan as it was not a settled one. Non-democratic forces often take advantage of the non-performance of democratic system,” he added.

Lahore: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in an interactive session with the students of Beaconhouse National University. pic.twitter.com/kRywPoQ3Y3

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2024

He regretted that the principles of democracy were violated by those who did not consider them in their advantage, adding that certain issues required a thorough debate and advised the youth to be genuine and try to find out genuine solutions to country’s issues.

PM Kakar reiterated that state would not allow anyone to unleash violence and kill people in the name of political, ethnic and religious divide as it was the responsibility of the state to ensure law and order.

نوجوان ملک کا مستقبل ہیں،نوجوانوں سے بات چیت کرنےپر ہمیشہ خوشی ہوتی ہے۔ نوجوانوں کو قومی ترقی کیلئے بھر پور کردار ادا کرنا ہے۔

~ نگران وزیراعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی بیکن ہاؤس نیشنل یونیورسٹی، لاہور کے طلباء و طالبات سے گفتگو pic.twitter.com/zOyT2mGfB0

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2024

He said that no one could be given a licence to kill and eliminate others on the basis of political, ethnic and religious differences.

“To maintain law and order is the responsibility of the state, and I assure you that such elements will never prevail on the state of Pakistan,” he asserted.

The prime minister, elaborating his viewpoint while responding to a question, said that the one who reverted to fighting with the state and the countrymen would get the befitting response.

ملک میں 10ہزار ارب روپے کی ٹیکس چوری ہو رہی ہے۔ ٹیکس کی شرح میں کمی بڑا چیلنج ہے۔ تعلیم ، صحت اور دیگر سہولتوں کیلئے ٹیکس کا مربوط نظام ناگزیر ہے۔ نگران حکومت کے دور میں ایف بی آر نے ٹیکس ہدف حاصل کیا۔

~ نگران وزیراعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی بیکن ہاؤس نیشنل یونیورسٹی، لاہور کے طلباء… pic.twitter.com/QLPoUNhHeB

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2024

The prime minister said that the government would not allow terrorists and militants to kill people with impunity as they had openly declared fight against the state and the civilians in the country.

“We have accepted their challenge,” he said and expressed the resolve to fully respond to all threats with full force.

To another query, he said that government functioned primarily on revenue generation system, adding that the country had a tax collection over Rs9,000 billion, but there was tax evasion of more than almost Rs10,000 billion.

“The lack of effective revenue system had been a consistent story which required effective steps,” he added.

The premier said that it was a consistent story with different past political set ups and military dictators, adding for strengthening of economy, it was the first and foremost requirement to develop a robust tax system, citing the Scandinavian countries with the highest tax revenue figures to their GDP.

The caretaker prime minister said that if the interim set up in the country could achieve the tax target, then why not an elected government. “If they were not able to achieve such, then there was a serious flaw in the governance system,” he opined.

He also underlined the need of improvement in the structure of bureaucracy and the governance system.

About a question related to Gaza, the caretaker prime minister said that Israel was displaying a force of brutality with impunity. Pakistan had used the forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international fora and engaged with the European, US and diplomats of other countries by reminding them that if such senseless behaviour on the part of Israel continued, it would be radicalising about 1.4 billion Muslims across the world, he added.

سال نو کی تقریبات نہ منانے کا مقصد دنیا کو فلسطینیوں پر مظالم سے آگاہ کرنا تھا۔ فلسطین میں جاری خونریزی کی بھر پور مذمت کرتے ہیں۔

~ نگران وزیراعظم انوار الحق کاکڑ کی بیکن ہاؤس نیشنل یونیورسٹی، لاہور کے طلباء و طالبات سے گفتگو pic.twitter.com/uEPgEnewo3

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 2, 2024