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Tag: PML-N

  • PML-N leaders misread WB report criticising their economic policies, attack PTI govt instead

    PML-N leaders misread WB report criticising their economic policies, attack PTI govt instead

    In a rather hilarious development, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have misread a World Bank (WB) report criticising their government’s economic policies and have attacked the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) instead.

    According to a draft report by the WB, Pakistan’s budget has lost its credibility and the public finance management has further weakened.

    The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) report, the final draft of which was shared with the Finance Ministry in June, contains findings that reflect the poor performance of the Finance Ministry and how it failed to uphold fiscal rules.

    The report was widely shared by PML-N leaders and supporters, who held the incumbent PTI government responsible for the mismanagement of the country’s economic affairs.

    The catch, however, is that the report assesses Pakistan’s public finance management system and an analysis of its annual budgets from 2015 to 2018 — a time period when the PML-N was in power.

    Twitterati were quick to point out the blunder following which PML-N leaders, including Vice President Maryam Nawaz, deleted their tweets.

    According to The Express Tribune, when compared with a similar assessment that the WB carried out in 2012, the country fared poorer on almost all indicators and seven key pillars.

    There were hardly two indicators where the score improved while on the other two the score remained unchanged. In 2012, the country had secured five A grades – the highest score – but in the 2019 assessment, there was not even a single indicator where it got an A.

    Pakistan lost the highest score on critical indicators like the classification of budget, comprehensiveness of budget information, transparency in inter-governmental fiscal operations, participation in budget process and predictability of direct budget support.

    The lowest score is D plus and D. In 2012, the country got only six Ds and D plus but the lowest score reached a staggering 13 in 2019, reflecting the extremely poor performance of the Finance Ministry from 2015 to 2018.

  • NAB arrests ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    NAB arrests ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    The National Accountancy Bureau (NAB) has arrested former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) scandal case.

    Abbasi is facing accusations of handing over a tender worth Rs220 billion to a company in which he himself was a shareholder. His name is also on the Exit Control List (ECL) so as to stop him from leaving the country.

    The arrest comes after the former premier skipped a NAB hearing pertaining to the case at the bureau’s Rawalpindi office.

    According to reports, Abbasi was due in Lahore for a press conference to be addressed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif at 4 pm. He, however, was intercepted on his way and taken into custody.

    “I received the NAB notice yesterday and it was not possible for me to appear before the bureau on such short notice,” he had stated in a letter to NAB earlier in the day. He had also reportedly sought three days from the anti-graft watchdog for appearance.

    The PML-N is yet to react to the arrest.

  • Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    Govt withdraws food-from-home facility for jailed Nawaz

    The Punjab government has decided to withdraw food-from-home facility for former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.

    According to media reports, the jail administration, anytime this week, would order the withdrawal of the facility that Nawaz has been availing since his days in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.

    After the withdrawal of the facility, the former premier would have to be content with the jail food — which according to Nawaz’s family, is “unfit to consume” considering his deteriorating health.

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa had last month rejected a petition by the ex-PM for an extension in the bail granted to him on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia reference.

    It was followed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also rejecting his bail plea. Nawaz had been granted bail on medical grounds by the apex court on March 26 for six weeks.

    On April 25, he had submitted a review petition in the SC seeking a permanent bail. His bail expired on May 7.

  • PML-N MPA, his sons booked for ‘raping minor maid’

    PML-N MPA, his sons booked for ‘raping minor maid’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Tahir Jamil, his sons Afaq and Saad, as well as his wife Bano, have been booked for allegedly raping their 14-year-old maid in Faisalabad, SAMAA reported.

    According to reports, the case was registered by the victim’s father under sections 376 (rape) and 377B (unnatural offences) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 34 (unauthorised custody) of the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act (PDNCA), 2004.

    According to the victim’s father, the girl was working at Jamil’s Faisalabad residence in Al Masoom Town for the past six months.

    The girl returned home on Tuesday and told her family that she had been raped twice by Jamil a few months ago, while Afaq and Saad also molested her. According to the victim, Jamil’s wife Bano beat her up as well.

    She also claimed being threatened by the family in case she informed anyone of her ordeal, while her father has said he was pressurised against registering a case.

    The medico-legal officer has been unable to confirm the rape owing to the passage of time. No arrests have so far been made.

    PUNISHMENT:

    Section 376 is punishable by death or a 10 to 25-year jail sentence besides a fine. Section 377B is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

    PDNCA’s Section 34, on the other hand, is punishable by a jail term between three months and five years and a fine between Rs10,000 and Rs100,000.

  • Three times Punjab Assembly passed rather ‘interesting’ resolutions

    Three times Punjab Assembly passed rather ‘interesting’ resolutions

    A resolution seeking ban on celebrities hosting Ramzan transmissions has been accepted by the Punjab Assembly.

    The resolution, tabled by a Pakistan Rahe Haq Party lawmaker, states the “unfortunate practice afflicts the spirits of millions of Muslims every year”.

    While the internet is divided over the proposed ban, many believe the Punjab Assembly is only keeping up with its tradition of discussing resolutions that “do not even affect the people”.

    Here’s a list of some other interesting provincial house resolutions that don’t really make much sense.

    SUMMONING GOOGLE CEO:

    A resolution filed in December 2018 called for summoning Google Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai for showing Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s photo under “bhikari” (beggar) search.

    APPOINTING ISHAQ DAR IN ASAD UMAR’S PLACE:

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers in April submitted a resolution calling for the reinstatement of Ishaq Dar as minister of finance “on contract”.

    The resolution, reportedly tabled by PML-N MPA Hina Pervez Butt, stated that then Finance Minister Asad Umar was “incompetent to resolve economic issues of the country” and urged the government to accept the “golden chance”.

    It is also mentioned that Dar had recovered the
    value of Pakistani Rupee (PKR) from Rs111 to Rs98 against the United States Dollar (USD) during the tenure of the PML-N.

    ALEEMA KHAN’S ‘SEWING MACHINES’ FOR WOMEN:

    Another resolution submitted in January this year called on the government to “benefit from Aleema Khan’s advice” and provide women across the country with sewing machines.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s sister Aleema, who is named as the owner of properties in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had claimed that she bought properties from the money she earned through sewing machines.

    The resolution was tabled by PML-N lawmaker Azma Bokhari.

  • VIDEO: PML-N MPA accidentally chants ‘Go Nawaz Go’ instead of ‘Go Imran Go’

    VIDEO: PML-N MPA accidentally chants ‘Go Nawaz Go’ instead of ‘Go Imran Go’

    After Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Germany-Japan statement, a Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) lawmaker, in yet another incident of slip of tongue, has chanted “Go Nawaz Go”.

    In a video making rounds over the internet, PML-N MPA Uzma Bukhari can be seen protesting against the government outside Punjab Assembly.

    Raising slogans, she accidentally chants “Go Nawaz Go” instead of “Go Imran Go”. When she realises her mistake, Uzma stops quickly.

    According to reports, the leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shehbaz, was also present during the protest. He, however, did not react to the blunder.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Popularised during the 126-day sit-in of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), “Go Nawaz Go” is a political slogan against former premier Nawaz Sharif.

  • Five ways you can defend PML-N

    Five ways you can defend PML-N

    Generally considered a conservative political party that supports free market capitalism, democratic ideals and is anti-censorship, the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is among the few major political entities that shaped Pakistan as it is today.

    While the party’s popularity has taken massive blows in recent years owing to the alleged involvement of its leadership, especially former party chief and thrice-elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif, in corrupt practices, here are five reasons you have to love PML-N for, nonetheless.

    Too lazy to read the entire article? Watch the video:

    5. Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Bill:

    The Shehbaz administration passed in the provincial assembly the Protection of Women Against Violence Bill 2015, granting sweeping powers to women, particularly in their marital life.

    While the bill invited strong criticism from religious circles that termed some of the clauses of the new law “repugnant to the basic canons of Islam”, it was finally passed by the Punjab Assembly in February 2016, providing comprehensive protection to women against a range of crimes.

    4. 126 days of patience:

    Among other achievements of the PML-N during its last tenure were the 126 days of patience while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan continued his Azadi march and subsequent sit-in in the federal capital from August 14 to December 17, 2014.

    The patience that the then ruling party resorted to – without launching a rigorous crackdown and later accepting the protesters’ demands – calls for accepting it as a reason to love the PML-N.

    3. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor:

    PML-N supremo Nawaz is credited for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project which has brought $46 billion investment to Pakistan.

    The project is a collection of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout the country, the value of which was worth $62 billion as of 2017.

    Officials predict that CPEC will result in the creation of over 2 million jobs by the year 2030 and will add 2 to 2.5 percent points to the country’s annual economic growth.

    2. Dealing with the energy crisis:

    The PML-N government launched several power plants in Sahiwal, Port Qasim, Jamshoro, Faisalabad, Mianwali and DG Khan besides a solar park in Bahawalpur and wind farms in Sindh to overcome the once “uncontrollable” power shortage.

    Its pre-2013 polls promise to bring about US$20 billion for the energy sector was also fulfilled which positively impacted the lives of the people, at least until 2018.

    1. War on terror:

    The then premier Nawaz launched the Karachi operation in 2013 as part of which hundreds of criminals, gangs and terrorist were held and sentenced.

    Zarbe Azab was also one of the biggest and most successful anti-terrorism operations ever, which was launched by the Nawaz government. The operation launch was followed by the formation of the National Action Plan later in 2015 to crack down on terrorism and supplement the anti-terrorist offensives.

    It was considered as a major coordinated state retaliation following the deadly APS Peshawar attack and received unprecedented levels of support and co-operation across the country’s political spectrum.

  • 600,000 Pakistanis to be unemployed by July 2019?

    600,000 Pakistanis to be unemployed by July 2019?

    As many as 0.6 million Pakistanis “will lose their jobs by July 2019”, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohammad Zubair Umar has claimed amid questions being raised over the government’s efforts for the uplifting of the country’s economy.

    “Unemployment is rising by the day and it is expected that by end of the fiscal year, 600,000 Pakistanis will have lost their jobs,” Zubair said in a statement issued after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government completed 200 days in centre.

    Due to the poor economy, he added, more than four million people “will also go below the poverty line”.

    WATCH THE VIDEO INSTEAD:

    The claims, however, were refuted by Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar, who termed Zubair’s statement “the worst case of inaccurate numbers and half-truths”.

    “Pure conjecture. With private sector borrowing up and exporters gearing up for higher productions and foreign investors showing unprecedented interest, Pakistan is readjusting for investment and employment-led growth,” Azhar said.

    He further stated the most comprehensive and consolidated poverty alleviation programme was being developed by the government and there was no truth to Zubair’s statement regarding millions of people going below the poverty line.

    With the row between members of the ruling PTI and PML-N continuing, The Current reached out to a Lahore-based political economist and public policy professional Rahema Hasan for the validity of either side’s claims.

    “People may not be losing their jobs by the end of the fiscal year, but it’s the number of people entering the labour force annually, which will add to the unemployment rate,” she said.

    “Unemployment figures are high for Pakistan, but estimations need to be made on concurrent information and not perceptions,” she said and added that such claims could discourage private sector investment confidence and put pressure on public resources.

    On the other hand, the government needs to put down estimations of how much employment is expected out of the investment coming to Pakistan; for example, 1,000 jobs per every $100 million invested in the agriculture sector, Rahema said further.

    “Perception is a key to economic decision making, however, necessarily based on incomplete and unverified information, it is equated with reality for most practical purposes and guides human behavior,” she said.

    Rahema was of the view that mere assumptions and political gimmicks could have devastating effects on economic decision-making.