Pakistan has squandered the economic growth opportunity in the past because of political instability, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said, asserting that "tanks and missiles" alone cannot save a country.

Iqbal, who is also the Minister for Planning and Development, claimed that during the 90s then Indian finance minister Manmohan Singh borrowed economic reforms strategies from his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz and successfully implemented them in India, the Express Tribune Reported.

He said Bangladesh also successfully used the same strategies but Pakistan could not put its own plans to use as the decade was lost to political instability.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Pakistan National Centre for Cyber Security here yesterday.

"The first opportunity for Pakistan's economy to take off came in the 60s, the second in the 90s, and the third opportunity is knocking at the doors now, which must not be lost to instability like in the past. Enough is enough," he was quoted as saying by the daily.

He described peace, stability and continuity as critical for economic progress.

"We will have to think why many countries which were behind us are now far ahead. China's per capita income was far below Pakistan's but is now much higher. Similarly, Bangladesh's foreign reserves have reached $33 billion while we are at $18 billion. For how long, we will watch other countries overtake us,"&nbspthe minister said.

He said "tanks and missiles" alone could not save a country if it's not strong economically.&nbsp

He said while the Pakistani armed forces had "rendered great sacrifices, the successful fight against terrorism was possible also because of the availability of funds from the national budget."

"There was a time when terrorists had surrounded us but today the state has cornered them. If we squander this opportunity, the history and future generations will not forgive us,"&nbspAhsan added.

He said in 2013 Pakistan was using 2G wireless technology but the country would now be among the first users of the 5G technology in the world.

He said "tanks and missiles" alone could not save a country if it's not strong economically.

Pakistan has squandered the economic growth opportunity in the past because of political instability, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said, asserting that "tanks and missiles" alone cannot save a country. Iqbal, who is also the Minister for Planning and Development, claimed that during the 90s then Indian finance minister Manmohan Singh borrowed economic reforms strategies from his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz and successfully implemented them in India, the Express Tribune Reported. He said Bangladesh also successfully used the same strategies but Pakistan could not put its own plans to use as the decade was lost to political instability. He was speaking at the inauguration of Pakistan National Centre for Cyber Security here yesterday. "The first opportunity for Pakistan's economy to take off came in the 60s, the second in the 90s, and the third opportunity is knocking at the doors now, which must not be lost to instability like in the past. Enough is enough," he was quoted as saying by the daily. He described peace, stability and continuity as critical for economic progress. "We will have to think why many countries which were behind us are now far ahead. China's per capita income was far below Pakistan's but is now much higher. Similarly, Bangladesh's foreign reserves have reached $33 billion while we are at $18 billion. For how long, we will watch other countries overtake us,"&nbspthe minister said. He said "tanks and missiles" alone could not save a country if it's not strong economically. He said while the Pakistani armed forces had "rendered great sacrifices, the successful fight against terrorism was possible also because of the availability of funds from the national budget." "There was a time when terrorists had surrounded us but today the state has cornered them. If we squander this opportunity, the history and future generations will not forgive us,"&nbspAhsan added. He said in 2013 Pakistan was using 2G wireless technology but the country would now be among the first users of the 5G technology in the world.

Tanks and missiles alone can't save a country: Pakistan interior minister Ahsan Iqbal

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-interior-minister-ahsan-iqbal-was-an-easy-target-says-primary-suspect-after-assassination-attempt-135300">Pakistan's interior minister</a> is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province.

He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July.

The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military.

Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law.

According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal".

Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party.

"We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters.

But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet.

"They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks."

'Send them to Hell'

Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

It has also compounded unease about blasphemy.

Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out.

Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy.

In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned.

Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report.

Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade.

Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action.

"It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said.

Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law.

Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him.

Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report.

Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due.

Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said.

"When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

&nbsp;

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees it mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province. He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July. The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military. Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law. According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal". Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party. "We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet. "They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks." 'Send them to Hell' Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. It has also compounded unease about blasphemy. Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out. Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy. In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned. Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report. Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade. Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action. "It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said. Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law. Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him. Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report. Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due. Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said. "When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

Islamist group youth leader accused of shooting Pakistani minister: Police

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that Pakistan was committed to eliminating 'any signs' of terrorism from the country.&nbsp;

Addressing a three-day International Counter-Terrorism Forum, Iqbal said, "It is our national resolve to cleanse any sign of terrorism to achieve the objective of peace and development."

Iqbal underlined that the military forces had put in efforts and made sacrifices while flushing out terror outfits from Pakistan, adding that terrorists had targeted everyone in the country, Geo News reported.

"We carried out Zarb-e-Azb like operations from our own resources to flush out terror outfits. Terrorists have targeted all sections of Pakistan. Terrorists have attacked mosques, churches, temples and shrines," the interior minister asserted.&nbsp;

Iqbal added that around 60,000 lives were lost in the country during the war against terrorism, but it did not deter the nation's resolve of combating terrorism. He also called for peace and development of Pakistan.&nbsp;

Stressing on the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan, Iqbal said, "Afghanistan was left at the mercy of terrorist networks. Due to this, Pakistan is still suffering from the consequences of the Afghan war."

The interior minister further said that the war on terror was not over yet and collaborative efforts were being taken to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan.&nbsp;

Iqbal underscored that Pakistan was considered one of the most dangerous places in the world back several years ago, but according to world publications, the country was being declared as one of the most emerging economies in the world.

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that Pakistan was committed to eliminating 'any signs' of terrorism from the country

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that Pakistan was committed to eliminating 'any signs' of terrorism from the country. Addressing a three-day International Counter-Terrorism Forum, Iqbal said, "It is our national resolve to cleanse any sign of terrorism to achieve the objective of peace and development." Iqbal underlined that the military forces had put in efforts and made sacrifices while flushing out terror outfits from Pakistan, adding that terrorists had targeted everyone in the country, Geo News reported. "We carried out Zarb-e-Azb like operations from our own resources to flush out terror outfits. Terrorists have targeted all sections of Pakistan. Terrorists have attacked mosques, churches, temples and shrines," the interior minister asserted. Iqbal added that around 60,000 lives were lost in the country during the war against terrorism, but it did not deter the nation's resolve of combating terrorism. He also called for peace and development of Pakistan. Stressing on the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan, Iqbal said, "Afghanistan was left at the mercy of terrorist networks. Due to this, Pakistan is still suffering from the consequences of the Afghan war." The interior minister further said that the war on terror was not over yet and collaborative efforts were being taken to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan. Iqbal underscored that Pakistan was considered one of the most dangerous places in the world back several years ago, but according to world publications, the country was being declared as one of the most emerging economies in the world.

Pakistan committed to combating terrorism: Pakistan Interior Minister