Dar should clarify if IMF asked Pakistan to give nuclear weapons.

Qureshi: Dar should clarify if IMF asked Pakistan to give nuclear weapons.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday questioned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's statement on nuclear weapons in the Senate, demanding that the senator clarifies whether the international Monetary Fund (IMF) asked for Pakistan to give up it's missile system.

"This statement has created a new crisis in the country," the former foreign minister said, adding that the foreign office spokesperson had to clarify during her weekly press briefing.

"Tell us if IMF asked you for a missile system, Ishaq Dar. Why did you make such a big statement on the floor of the house?" asked Qureshi. No one has the right to ask us about our nuclear programme, said Qureshi.

"Our nuclear weapons are for our defense," the PTI leader said, highlighting that Pakistan Peoples party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani has also asked the prime minister to give a policy statement on nuclear weapons.

Qureshi said that his successor at the Ministry of foreign Affairs, Bilawal Bhutto-zardari,  should have issued a clarification.

Police registered terror case against PTI workers

No compromise on nuclear weapons.

The finance ministers comments came in response to Senator Raza Rabbani's concerns that he raised during a Senate session, wherein he asked whether the IMF programme was being delayed to force the government into restoring to moves that were against state interests.

The finance minister said nobody has any right to dictate to "Pakistan what range of missiles and what nuclear weapons it can have; we have to have our own deterrence".

"This programme should have been completed in 2022 ," he said, castigating the PTI regime for succumbing to IMF demands including the autonomy of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The finance minister said the delay is not on part of the incumbent government and claimed that they have been involved in extensive engagements with the IMF which are "unusual, too lengthy, too long, too demanding".

.

.

.

.

.

........................ Qureshi: Dar should clarify if IMF asked Pakistan to give up nuclear weapons...........