Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry Saturday said public money was badly misused by the past rulers, adding that the money which was to be spent for the development of Gujranwala, Jhelum, Larkana, Ghakhar and other areas was found in Dubai and London
“Rs 90 billion of Larkana package were found in Dubai,” he said while addressing a public meeting in Ghakhar. He said the PTI government inherited poor economy, adding that the loans which the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) took during the last 10 years were 84 per cent of the country’s total loans.
Fawad said that Imran Khan did not take even a single penny from the national exchequer, adding that the prime minister regards himself accountable before the people. “When previous leadership is questioned about foreign loans, they started raising hue and cry and said the democracy was at risk,” he said. “Now they are criticising the PTI government for not giving subsidy on hajj. I ask them what did you leave in the exchequer for us to give subsidy to the pilgrims?” he said.
Fawad said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political struggle spanned over 22 years and the people of Gujranwala, like other parts of the country, had voted for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in large numbers. He said PPP and PML-N had become united against the PTI government, but PM Khan will offer no deal to them.
“Government’s mission is to treat the rich and the poor alike and as per law,” he said, adding that Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Khawaja Saad Rafique were enjoying facilities in jails which were not available to ordinary prisoners. “These people [former rulers] should also receive the same treatment in jails as an ordinary, poor inmate does,” he said.
The minister said that Nawaz Sharif was not satisfied over his treatment in the public-sector hospitals of the country despite remaining in power for almost three decades. He said a revolution in the country has come through the middle class and today the PTI is in power through that revolution.
Fawad said relations with Middle Eastern countries have improved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and now Saudi Arabia, Iran and US give weightage to Imran’s words. He said all countries were looking towards Pakistan as it was playing its due role in the region.
Published in Daily Times, February 3rd 2019.
