Ministers advise Opposition to take back long march decision

| Shibli says Senate election was last nail in PDM’s coffin | Despite surge in coronavirus cases, political orphans trying to create instability | Fawad says Javed Latif is merely a puppet of his political masters.

ISLAMABAD   –  Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said Sunday that at a time when coronavirus cases had registered an upsurge, some political orphans are trying to create instability in the country.

Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain here, he said that in the first phase of agitation the opposition claimed that they would hold a long march, tender resignations from the assemblies but nothing happened and the entire protest movement fizzled out as the people rejected them.

He said that the PDM leadership was also frustrated over the vote of confidence of the Prime Minister Imran Khan and suffered more humiliation in the elections of Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

The minister said that they were trying to create unrest in the country as they see their political death in stability and economic development in the country. He said that during the first phase of coronavirus, the Pakistan government under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan adopted a strategy which proved very effective and successful and was appreciated by the entire world. 

He said that the PTI government followed the policy of protecting lives and livelihood so that daily wage employees were saved from starvation. He said despite the coronavirus, the economy had been stabilised and all economic indicators were positive. He said that in the first phase of vaccination frontline workers and citizens over 65 were being vaccinated and in the Punjab, the process was going on in an organized method and the other provinces should follow that method. He said that the government was receiving messages of congratulations from the people for the well organised vaccination campaign in the province.

‘Stabbed in the back’

The minister said that it was difficult to wear a face mask every time while coming out but it was necessary for public safety and precautionary measures as directed by the concerned authorities  should be adopted by all and sundry.

Replying to questions from reporters, Senator Shibli Faraz said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement had fallen apart while the last nail in their coffin was the election of chairman and deputy chairman Senate.

The minister asserted that the PML-N stabbed in the back of the PPP whereas the PPP stabbed in the back of JUI-Fazal and this was reflected in the results.

He said that they thought that the win of one seat in the Federal Capital had revived them, but it turned out to be an isolated event. He said that the PPP had a different approach while Maulana Fazl wanted resignations and PML-N found differences internally on its future course of action.

To a question, he said that though he was not much hopeful, the PDM should review its planned long march in the country’s interest and in view of the risks involved in the backdrop of the third wave of the

coronavirus. “Whatever identity of the PDM is left will be erased, if they go for their planned programme,” Shibli Faraz opined.

About the marked difference of prices of flour, oil, sugar and other items of daily use in 2018 and in 2021, the minister said that there were diverse reasons of the same and added that these were the results of the lopsided policies of the past regimes when only big projects like those of roads and bridges were materialized for kickbacks and the state institutions continued to face decay.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said, attached topmost importance to provision of relief to masses and prices of some items had come down also. He stated that climate change, low wheat production were among the reasons for inflationary trends. The minister pointed out that in the past no reforms were done in the FBR, SECP and the Competition Commission of Pakistan like institutions, the results were obvious. He said that the PTI government was taking forward its agenda of reforms in all these bodies. He blamed the PML-N government for also artificially keeping the exchange rate of dollar versus rupee which badly damaged the local industrial sector.

‘Positive economic indicators’

Vital sectors like health and education, science and technology and human resource development, he continued, were totally ignored but the incumbent government was paying due attention to them.

He said they left such a legacy, wherein only imports were improved and the state institutions overlooked and marginalized. Shibli argued that PML-N’s Miftah Ismail had conceded on the floor of the National Assembly towards the end of their government that the state of the economy was not good and they would have to go to the IMF.

“Now, they claim, that the economy was in good shape, why he had predicted approaching the IMF for a package,” he asked. Likewise, he added the economic growth was projected artificially. On its part, the government was taking various measures, including empowerment of the SBP so that it could effectively control inflation. The issues were complex and the government was moving forward accordingly to tackle them, Shibli said. He emphasised that the economic indicators were very positive and the economy was stable again despite the corona factor and this was because of the Prime Minister and his government’s best strategy of saving lives as well as keeping the wheel of economy moving, ensuring livelihood and providing cash relief to those who deserved it. He noted this strategy was appreciated at the international level. To another question, he said that Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood and his ministry were trying their best to come up with such an approach to ensure the academic loss to students should be minimized with the corona cases again increasing rapidly.

‘Electoral reforms’

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain advised the PDM leaders to take back its long march decision and sit together with the electoral reforms committee to have their useful input accepted by the government.

He said that long march was unlawful under Charter of Democracy signed between Nawaz Sharif and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and added, “We can scarify our government for the sack of democracy.

Addressing a press conference flanked by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz at PID here Sunday, the Federal Minister said the ups and downs are part of politics and one should not have cross the red lines after defeating.

‘Pakistan Khappay’

He said that Javed Latif is merely a puppet of his political masters. There would have no issue if Senate election were held through open balloting, he said and added that those who wanted to follow MQM founder must look into their fate.

Fawad Chaudhry said that PML-N leader Javed Latif’s anti-Pakistan statement was highly painful and condemnable, which was clear negation of PPP leader Asif Zardari’s popular slogan “Pakistan Khappay” after martyrdom of BB Shaheed. He said that both Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain were the gifts of 80s politics and they had no political principles when it was the matter of getting vested political interests for them. The minister added that it was a great unfortunate that the national politics was made hostage at the hands of politically immature leaders.

Commending the NAB’s move of rejecting the bail application of Maryam Nawaz, the Federal Minister said the government has no control or influence over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and courts. Maryam’s willingness to leave for London would not be fulfilled, he said and added that Nawaz had to decide either he wants to return the public money or go to jail

Fawad said the federal government has provided Rs 1600 billion to Sindh government but even then, he added, the Sindh Chief Minister says he is not answerable to the centre nor he is under the federal government.