A pre-budget seminar was organised by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on June 3 in Islamabad.
The seminar was organised by the Economic Advisory Council of the PML-N on the direction of party president Shehbaz Sharif.
Owing to the fragile policies of #PTIGovernment, our economy is in doldrums and the inflation has reached sky high. #PMLN will be exposing the government’s incompetence in tomorrow’s pre-budget seminar at 3:00pm. pic.twitter.com/Ht6Yx8wZaf
Titled ‘Economy sinking under Imran Khan’s government’, the seminar discussed all the economic issues before the upcoming budget. The main focus was on the economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government.
Graphs shown during the seminar entailed that Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.8 per cent in PML-N’s last year, the highest in 16 years. In addition, GDP growth consistently remained above 4 per cent in each of PML-N’s 5 years. GDP growth has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1 per cent growth in 2019.
🇵🇰’s GDP grew by 5.8% in PMLN’s last year, the highest in 16 years. In addition, GDP growth consistently remained above 4% in each of PMLN’s 5 years. GDP growth has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1% growth in 2019 #PMLNPreBudgetSeminar (1/2) pic.twitter.com/rs771fCURb
PTI is claiming 3.9 per cent growth now in 2021, but this claim is being challenged by independent economists. Whereas, GDP has significantly declined during PTI’s tenure with 2.1 per cent growth in 2019.
PTI is claiming 3.9% growth now in 2021 but this claim is being challenged by independent economists. Even if PTI’s claim is to be accepted, average GDP growth under PTI is 1.8% in 3 years, which is below the population growth📈 rate.#PMLNPreBudgetSeminar (2/2) pic.twitter.com/TWfI1hQoSV
Shehbaz Sharif claimed that the government was pushing out wrong statistics and misinforming the public since the start of the its tenure.
“The government’s statistics [regarding the budget] have already become a subject of debate,” Shehbaz said while addressing the seminar virtually.
“Their past is evident and they have been putting forth forged figures,” he said. “This comes on top of the government’s worst performance and major failures.”
Last week, on Sunday, while addressing the nation live, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the Opposition parties were complaining about the government misleading the nation on the economy as they had not expected it to achieve a growth rate of nearly 4 per cent.
“The economic growth rate has baffled political opponents who wanted the government to fail in meeting these challenges left behind by our predecessors,” added Khan.
Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azma Bokhari had an interesting exchange outside the Punjab Assembly earlier today.
Fayyaz Chohan offered to hold a joint press conference in the Punjab Assembly with Azma Bokhari.
“Azma sahiba can talk openly against our government and then it shall be my turn to comment on her party [PML-N],” said Fayyaz laughingly.
Azma Bokhari said she should be allowed to answer him point-by-point. Chohan Fayyaz said it would not be possible.
On being asked by a reporter as to why the two individuals weren’t ready to do a joint press conference, Azma said, ” He [Fayyaz] should resign from his ministry, and stand beside me and hold a press conference as today’s presser is the Opposition’s.” Azma further added that she would happily welcome him [Fayyaz] and present him with a garland if he resigns and joins the Opposition.
“I offered her [Azma] to speak first because I personally respect her,” said Fayyaz.
Fayyaz Chohan later took to Twitter and said, “I offered Azma Bokhari to hold a joint press conference today, I was ready to give her the first turn but Azma did not dare accept.”
میں نے عظمی بخاری صاحبہ کو آفر کی کہ آج مشترکہ پریس کانفرنس کرتے ھیں۔۔اور۔۔پہلی باری بھی دینے کو تیار تھا۔۔۔لیکن عظمی بخاری صاحبہ نے ھمت نہ کی۔۔۔!!! https://t.co/8UbsvQ4DJN
— Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan (@Fayazchohanpk) June 2, 2021
To which Azma tweeted, “I asked you to resign. You are not destined to stand beside me.”
میں نے تو کہا تھا،استعفے دے کے آجاو، میرے ساتھ کھڑے ہونے کے مقدر نہیں ہیں آپ کے،منافقت چھوڑ دو https://t.co/VqSrSeFMZ6
— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) June 2, 2021
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on Saturday said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) were not discussed in the forum, as they are not part of the alliance.
“They [PPP] can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings,” said Maulana Fazl.
PDM also rejected the government’s “one-sided” electoral reforms, which include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and announced a fresh wave of anti-government protests.
“PDM rejects the government’s unilateral electoral reforms ordinance, including the voting machines, and terms it as pre-poll rigging,” said Fazl.
In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is responsible for holding transparent elections, should call a meeting of all political parties to take a unanimous decision on reforms, Fazl added.
The Opposition alliance announced a future course of action. On July 4, a massive anti-government protest will be held, followed by another one in Karachi on July 29.
On the occasion of August 14, a massive protest will be held in Islamabad, with PDM showing solidarity with Kashmiris and Palestinians.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will host a budget seminar soon to form a unified strategy during the budget session, while the task to hold the event has been given to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.
The PDM chief said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif attended the meeting via video, while other Opposition party leaders were present in person.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, on Thursday talked about how he spent his days in jail, his niece Maryam Nawaz’s political future, Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and many other issues in an interview given to Kamran Khan on Dunya News.
A typical day in jail
When asked what is a typical day in jail and how he spent those eight months, Shehbaz said: “I used to pray for Pakistan in jail. It is not easy to remain in jail as it takes a lot of patience to remain in jail. Allah gives one hope there. I would get up for Fajr prayers, I continued my morning walk. After exercise, I would have my breakfast and then recite the Quran. I would read books like Bob Woodward’s Rage. I read Islamic books and read tafseer (explanation) of Quran as I had a lot of time on my hands in solitary confinement. I would feed birds when I was there. I once fed aaloo chanay to birds. I saw that a crow washed the potato with water as it was spicy, which I found very fascinating as they say that crows are wise so I would observe the birds keenly.”
Corruption cases
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about the allegations against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif said since this is a sub judice matter, NAB invited him for the Saaf Paani case and arrested him in Ashiana scandal. During his arrest, they again arrested him in Ramzan Sugar Mills, and then assets beyond means case was opened against him. “I was given bail on merit in February 2019 in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.” He denied all charges of corruption. Shehbaz Sharif said that there is a NAB-Niazi collusion to target the Sharif family. “What else have they [the government] done in three years? They have no other priority other than how to destroy Sharifs’ businesses and our reputation. All they are interested in is to target my elder brother Nawaz Sharif and our family members.” He asked have they proved a penny of corruption against us.
Medical treatment in Britain
Shehbaz Sharif said he is a cancer survivor. He has been getting an annual check up in Britain since 2003. When asked how he would have entered Britain since Pakistan is on a Red List, Shehbaz said he took a chance to go via Doha and if that wasn’t allowed, he would have gone via Istanbul as Turkey was not on Britain’s Red List at that time. “I wasn’t going to Britain to play a cricket match or to learn jaadu tona (black magic). I was going there for my medical treatment and also to see my family.”
شہباز شریف بتا رہے ہیں پاکستان کے برطانیہ کی کورونا حوالے سے ممنوع ریڈ لسٹ میں شامل ہونے کے باوجود لندن کا سفر کرنے کے لئے وہ لاہور ائیرپورٹ کیوں پہنچ گئے اس کا توڑ انکے پاس موجود تھا pic.twitter.com/lMomFRcsIs
Kamran Khan asked him about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) while he was in jail and if he was involved directly or indirectly with PDM’s decisions. “As luck would have it, PDM was formed when I went to jail. PDM faced divisions within the alliance when I was in jail. I do not impose my views on anyone. I wasn’t allowed to meet my lawyers or family regularly either. I would give my advice when someone sought it. I didn’t know much about it [PDM]. Now I will be there in the next PDM meeting….Such alliances were formed in the past too like MRD, etc.” Shehbaz said differences do take place in such alliances. “No party alone can take a decision unilaterally. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of PDM, so such decisions are taken with consensus. Even if PDM isn’t there in its original form, I am the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and it is my duty to talk to all Opposition parties on issues like budget, Covid, foreign policy, Kashmir, Palestine or CPEC. Even if there are divisions in PDM, we have this forum in parliament.”
شہباز شریف PMLN صدر کی حیثیت سے بڑے پتے کی بات کررہے ہیں PDM غلط فیصلہ سازی کی وجہ سے ٹوٹ گئ اب آگے بڑھیں پارلیمنٹ میں اپوزیشن جماعتیں آپس میں مل کر تمام قومی مسائل پر مشترکہ حکمت عملی بنائیں گے اور پارلیمنٹ میں مسائل کا حل تجویز کریں گے pic.twitter.com/Iv0X6IRQIC
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing a lot of problems. “India is a member of G20. We came into being together; we should have been leading in the comity of global nations. Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan, now has a GDP growth rate higher than ours. How unfortunate that today, Afghanistan’s currency is stronger than Pakistan’s.”
Sharif lamented that this is a selected government. “They came into power after massive rigging.” General Bajwa said in front of me that Mian Nawaz Sharif has given me a lot of respect and never said no to anything related to defence. “Confrontation is not our path; it has to be consultation. This country cannot move forward without this. We need a consultative process between all institutions within the limits set by the Constitution. No one institution can take us out of this quagmire alone. It has to be through collective wisdom and efforts can we make Pakistan as a going country among comity of nations.” Kamran Khan said this is music to everyone’s ears.
Nawaz Sharif
Asked if Nawaz Sharif would agree to these suggestions, Shehbaz Sharif said: “He [Nawaz] is a statesman. I guarantee you he will be more than willing to contribute towards nation building efforts if there is a new social order which guarantees free and fair elections, all institutions work within their constitutional boundaries, judiciary is independent and free, and every government is allowed to work independently. Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.”
He said that when he goes to London, he will meet Nawaz. “He is my leader, he is like my father. There is no compromise on national interest. I am sure he will promote national interest if there is a level-playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”
شہباز شریف با بانگِ دہل اعلان کررہے ہیں ٹکراؤ لڑائی جھگڑے کی حکمت عملی سے کام نہیں چلے گا صرف مشاورت سے کام چلےگاسب سے اہم بات شہباز صاحب " گارنٹی" دے رہے ہیں نواز شریف قومی مفاہمت کی ہر کاوش کی حمایت کریں گے وہ نواز شریف کو قائل کرلیں گے چاہے پاؤں پکڑنے پڑیں pic.twitter.com/npZjrbx3nT
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about Maryam Nawaz’s active political role in the last few months. “Maryam has a right to be in politics; she is now a politician. Time is on her side. The awaam (people) will decide. I am telling you whether it is Hamza who spent 21 months in jail or someone else from other parties, they all have a right to enter politics and then the people will decide.
“Time is on Maryam’s side, time is on Hamza’s side. They need grooming. Maryam’s father, who is a statesman, will groom her. I will groom her as her uncle from my experience. We need to alleviate poverty, eliminate unemployment. This is our agenda. If we cannot follow this agenda, then politics means nothing.”
بڑی مہارت سے شہباز شریف صاحب نے مریم نواز ساتھ ساتھ جمزہ شہباز کو مشورہ دیا یاد رکھیں ابھی انکا وقت نہیں آگے انکا وقت آسکتا ہے ابھی انہیں تربیت کی ضرورت ہے ابھی انکے والدین موجود ہیں لیڈرشپ رول انکے پاس ہے گویا ابھی انتظار کریں pic.twitter.com/y8dru3jLee
“Chaudhry Nisar was not my friend; he was Nawaz Sharif’s friend. Whether you like it or not, I have always inherited his [Nawaz’s] legacy. Whether it’s Chaudhry Nisar or Khawaja Asif or Khawaja Hamid or anyone else. Chaudhry Nisar was initially against me, then he became a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, this 30-year-old friendship ended on a bad note. I won’t go into the details. When my mother passed away, I met him when he came for her fateha (prayers). Taking oath is Chaudhry Nisar’s own decision; he did not consult me. He did not directly consult me on this.”
چوہدری نثار کے حوالے سے بلاوجہ قلابیں ملائیں گئی حالانکہ جب شہباز شریف ہی چوہدری نثار علی خان سے کنارہ کشی بلکہ لا تعلقی کی گفتگو کریں تو واضح ہے چویدری نثار کا ن لیگی تعلق حتمی انجام کو پہنچ گیا pic.twitter.com/6xfAU9Jg8z
Shehbaz Sharif said that without electoral reforms, no one can take a step forward. However, he said this does not mean that electronic voting machines are the answer. “Who are they trying to befool? We all want to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. But in the garb of providing them the right to vote through electronic voting machines, we cannot have an RTS again.”
Summary of the interview
Shehbaz Sharif said that unity and a consultative process is needed and Parliament is the forum where this can be done. “We need a middle way for national reconciliation, consultative process with all institutions. Unfortunately, Parliament has been locked by Imran Khan Niazi. We need meaningful, substantial consultation in parliament. He [PM Khan] hates me so much that he did not even mention my name or title in the letters addressed to me by the Prime Minister. I addressed him by his title and name but he responded without mentioning my name again. If he is only interested in what his pir (spiritual guide) will tell him on how to destroy the Opposition, if this is his only priority, then what can I say?”
مجھے یقین ہے شہباز شریف انٹرویو کے سیاسی منظرنامے پر دورس خوشگوار اثرات رونما ہوں گےتوجہ سے سنیں: میں نے شہباز شریف سے زور دیکر قومی مفاہمتی منصوبہ اور نواز شریف شمولیت کی دو ٹوک وضاحت حاصل کی معنی خیز لگا دوران گفتگو انہوں نے نواز شریف صاحب کے لئے جنرل باجوہ کے جذبات کا زکر کیا pic.twitter.com/r8h3vfa5L4
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Wednesday that the PPP was not answerable to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz or PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and that his perspective remained unchanged.
لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری ماتلی، بدین میں پریس کانفرنس کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/FQ4ViOAC11
Addressing a press conference in Badin, the PPP chairman acknowledged that he had torn the show-cause notice and there was no change in his point of view on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
“We are not answerable to Maryam or Mian Sahab. We are answerable to the PPP and the PPP’s workers and we think the real joy will be in doing politics together with the PPP’s workers,” says Bilawal.
Bilawal said that Shehbaz Sharif was the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and the PML-N president, thus the PPP would consider his opinion and statements to be official PML-N policy and conduct its politics according to that.
“Instead of opposing the PPP, our friends in the opposition should target the government,” added Bilawal.
In response to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s concerns about the worsening law and order situation in Sindh, Bilawal said that the law and order situation in Sindh has improved, a move that has been made possible with the help of police.
“Sindh police have the full potential to restore peace in the province,” Bilawal said. “The interior minister [Sheikh Rasheed] is ready to give a lecture about another province but is not ready to protect journalists in Islamabad.”
Bilawal also condemned the attack on Islamabad-based journalist Asad Toor a day ago and said that journalists in Sindh are also being targeted for speaking the truth.
“We demand the highest level of investigation into the attack on journalists,” said Bilawal.
The PPP has decided to attend a dinner being hosted by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for members of the opposition parties today (Monday).
The PPP delegation will reportedly include Opposition leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Sherry Rehman.
PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that this was an invitation for opposition leaders and not of the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance ( PDM). He further added, “Neither does the PDM president nor its secretary-general has the authority to kick PPP out of the alliance.”
“The differences with PPP could have been resolved over discussions or sit downs instead of sending show-cause notices,” Bukhari added.
Sources in the PPP said the party’s senior leadership thought attending the dinner would serve in the best interest of the opposition, in giving a tough time to the PTI government in the up coming budget session in the National Assembly, The News had reported.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif have condemned the alleged attempted attack on former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by unidentified men. As per details, masked, unidentified men tried to break into the office of Nawaz Sharif in London after insisting that they had an appointment with him.
The Metropolitan police said that a criminal case has been registered and they are looking into the complaint.
مسلم لیگ ن کے صدر @CMShehbaz کا نواز شریف کو فون لندن میں دفتر پر ہونیوالے واقعے پر افسوس کا اظہار واقعہ کی تفصیلات معلوم کیں نواز شریف کو اپنی سکیورٹی مزید سخت کرنے کی درخواست کی نوازہونیوالا واقعہ افسوسناک ہیں شہباز شریف لندن میں ہونیوالے واقعہ کی مذمت کرتے ہیں pic.twitter.com/UbcM5MU1E0
“Strongly condemn cowardly attempt to barge into the office of Hussain Nawaz where Mian Nawaz Sharif was also present,” wrote Shehbaz on Twitter.
“They seemed to be armed and clearly had a sinister design but thankfully, could not succeed,” he added.
Sharif also requested the London police to “investigate the incident from all angles.”
Strongly condemn cowardly attempt to barge into the office of Hussain Nawaz where Mian Nawaz Sharif was also present. They seemed to be armed and clearly had a sinister design but thankfully, could not succeed. London police must investigate the incident from all angles.
Referring to the incident, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said: “People’s voices will not be silenced by low-life third rate criminals.”
“Nawaz Sharif is the voice of the people of Pakistan and will not be silenced,” the PML-N leader added.
Resorting to gross CRIMINALITY in the face of political frustration and defeat. Peoples voice will not be silenced by low life 3rd rate criminals.#NawazSharif is the voice of the people of Pakistan and will not be silenced, Insha’Allah. May Allah protect you #NawazSharif. pic.twitter.com/EJ0G2ch1S0
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 21, 2021
In a separate tweet Maryam hinted that the people who played with the life of her father during his arrest are behind the attack.
نواز شریف کی زندگی کے ساتھ دوران حراست کھلواڑ کرنے والے اب تک باز نہیں آئے۔نواز شریف کا مقابلہ اس سوچ سے ہے جس نے میری بیمار والدہ کی تصویریں بنانے کی کوشش کی،ہوٹل میں میرے کمرے کا دروازہ توڑا اور آج پھر نواز شریف پر حملہ آور ہونے کی کوشش کی۔ خدا کسی کو کم ظرف اور بزدل دشمن نہ دے
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communications Dr Shahbaz Gill asked Maryam to apologise for her false allegations, adding that the incident was related to a car fraud and took place on Thursday. Gill further alleged that the incident was planted to stop Nawaz’s deportation from UK.
معاملہ کار فراڈ کا ہے اور جمعرات کو پیش آیا۔شور جمعہ کو مچایا گیا۔ پہلا کاممریم بی بی نے اپنے مخالفیںن پر الزام لگا دیا۔لگتا ہے یہ سب کچھ نواز شریف کی برطانیہ بدری کو روکنے کے لئیے گھڑا گیا ہے۔اب عدم تحفظ کا بہانہ بنے گا۔مریم بی بی کو جھوٹے الزام لگانے پر فوری معافی مانگنی چاہئیے https://t.co/JkKaaKzoUh
اللہ محفوظ رکھے۔ حیرانی کی بات ہے کہ وہ خود لندن گئے اور واپس آنے کو تیار نہیں اب وہاں پر ان کی سیکورٹی کی زمہ داری آپ اپنے سیاسی مخالفین پر ڈال رہی ہیں۔اب بھی وقت ہے اگر آپ کے والد لندن میں محفوظ محسوس نہیں کر رہے تو انہیں فورا واپس آنا چاہئیے۔یہاں جیل میں مکمل سیکورٹی ملے گی۔ pic.twitter.com/DwpxyU6Bu6
Mohammad Zubair, Spokesperson to Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, claimed in a TV talk show that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has made peace with Rawalpindi. Zubair made this statement in ARY News programme ‘The Reporters’.
Alluding to a rapprochement between the establishment and PML-N, anchorperson Sabir Shakir directly asked Mohammad Zubair about ‘sulaah‘ (rapprochement) with Rawalpindi. The PML-N leader confirmed to Shakir that there has indeed been a reconciliation.
“All it will take is to pull the ladder away from PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] and the government will be in trouble,” added Zubair. He said that this is what the PTI fears.
مریم نواز کے ترجمان محمد زبیر نے کہا ہے کہ فوج کے ساتھ ن لیگ کے تعلقات ہمیشہ اچھے رہے ہیں، فوج کے ساتھ ن لیگ کی صلح ہوچکی ہے، فوج کو پی ٹی آئی کی سیڑھی قرار دیتے ہوئے محمد زبیر کا کہنا تھا کہ اب سیڑھی کھنچنےسے عمران خان کیلئے مسئلہ ہوجائے گا pic.twitter.com/chq9RpZ8jn
Zubair further added that the relations of PML-N with the army have always been good.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has been targeting the establishment quite vocally. At a rally in Gujranwala held by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) last year, Sharif’s comments against army chief shocked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Senior PML-N politician Javed Hashmi recently criticised the establishment in a video that went viral on social media. The PML-N has officially distanced itself from Hashmi’s comments by tweeting: “Javed Hashmi’s statement about the national institution is his personal opinion.”
جاوید ہاشمی کا قومی ادارے کے بارے میں بیان ان کی ذاتی رائے ہے – وہ پارٹی پالیسی کی ترجمانی نہیں کرتے – مسلم لیگ ن آئینی حکمرانی پر یقین رکھتی ہے اور اُمید کرتی ہے کہ تمام ادارے اپنی آئینی حدود میں رہ کر ملک کو مظبوط بنانے کے لئے کام کریں -ترجمان مسلم لیگ ن
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif was stopped by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from leaving the country earlier today. According to the FIA, Sharif’s name is on the Person-Not-In-List (PNIL), which means that persons who are not on Exit Control List (ECL) or on black list can be stopped through PNIL. On Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) said Shehbaz has “one time” permission to fly abroad for medical treatment. Sharif was all set to take a flight to London but the FIA stopped him at immigration at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
Talking to The Current, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said that this is a blatant violation of court orders despite FIA officials being present in court. “Such pettiness on behalf of the government has only exposed their nefarious designs.” Tarar, who is also part of the legal team in Sharif’s case, said that if this delay gives the prime minister satisfaction for a few days, “let him be happy”.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that Director General (DG) FIA has the authority to remove a name from a black list. “Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyers have not submitted any application to DG FIA to remove his [Sharif’s] name from the blacklist.” Chaudhry added that communicating something verbally does not mean there will be any change in the record. “The government will move the court against this decision.”
بلیک لسٹ میں نام ڈالنا یا نکالنا ڈائریکٹر جنرل FIA کا اختیار ہے، شہباز شریف کے وکلاء کی طرف سے عدالتی فیصلے کی بلیک لسٹ سے نام نکلوانے کی ابھی تک کوئ درخواست DGFIA کو نہیں دی گئ ، صرف زبانی باتوں پر ریکارڈ میں تبدیلی نہیں کی جا سکتی، حکومت اس فیصلے کیخلاف عدالت کو رجوع کرے گی
Talking to the media, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the FIA has added Sharif’s name in another list. She said that despite written order by the LHC, stopping Shehbaz Sharif from travelling is tantamount to contempt of court. Marriyum Aurangzeb added that now we are being told by the FIA that the system has not been updated even though there were two FIA officials present in court when the LHC granted Sharif permission to travel abroad.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry defended the prime minister’s remarks about envoys. “PM stands with the working class and not the elite.” PM Khan chastised Pakistani envoys recently over their missions’ indifferent behaviour towards the expat community.
“If we can’t raise our voices for overseas Pakistanis, we don’t have any right to remain in government,” added Fawad Chaudhry.
The minister stressed that Pakistan would have to uplift the working class to progress and to strengthen itself as a country. Fawad recalled that the PM had only instructed his ambassadors that the well-being and welfare of the overseas Pakistanis must be a priority.
The information minister spoke about an incident involving an overseas Pakistani woman, saying that she was being subjected to unjust treatment over the past few years.
“When she contacted an [Pakistani] embassy, she was told, ‘The police should take action against you for marrying thrice’,” said Chaudhry.
Chaudhry said the prime minister had, on many occasions in the past, said he was proud of Pakistan’s ambassadors. He said a few embassies had “closed their doors” on overseas Pakistani labourers, adding that action should be taken against those found guilty.
