NA to be dissolved before Aug 12: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday said the National Assembly would be dissolved before August 12 with the consultation of allied parties.

In an interview with Geo News programme Jirga anchorperson Saleem Safi, the prime minister said the tenure of the National Assembly would end on August 12 and the assembly would be dissolved before that while the Election Commission would announce a date for the next elections.

He said the decision about the caretaker prime minister would be taken in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and before that, he would consult all the allied parties and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif.

About the performance of his government, Shehbaz said in the last 15 months, Pakistan was saved from default with the prayers of the people and the status and dignity of the country were restored among friendly and brotherly countries.

He said cheap oil was bought from Russia while the government signed an agreement with Azerbaijan under which it would offer one LNG cargo every month at a price suitable to Pakistan. Cheap gas would also be bought from Qatar.

After Covid-19, gas prices were reduced to three dollars, but Imran Niazi was focused on targeting the opposition and imposing dictatorship in the country and showed negligence and did not buy cheap gas.

He stressed that no case of corruption had surfaced during his tenure, adding this year there was a bumper wheat crop while the production of cotton would also be better than in many past years.

Shehbaz said the Special Investment Facilitation Council was formed to undertake comprehensive economic recovery, attract foreign investment, bring about agricultural revolution, equip youth with tools of information technology and exploit mineral resources, adding all the federal and provincial governments would strive to achieve goals set by the council.

About measures to provide relief to people, he said the federal government increased the salaries of government employees of Grade 17 and below by 35 per cent and of above Grade 18 by 30 per cent, besides increasing pensions by 17.5pc. Similarly, the government of Punjab also raised the salaries of its employees by the same percentage.

Super tax was imposed on the income of rich people and on big business houses related to sugar, cement and other sectors. He said taxes were also levied on the tobacco sector after holding numerous meetings and scanners were imported for right valuation of tax on the tobacco industry.

The prime minister said the May 9 incident was a conspiracy against Pakistan, Pak Army and Chief of Army Staff as Imran Niazi, his associates, some persons from Army and their family members wanted to overthrow the leadership of Pakistan Army, create chaos and cause a civil war in Pakistan.

He clarified that the cases of those who attacked the civilian installations, would be tried in anti-terrorism courts and of those who attacked the military installations would face cases in military courts.

Imran Niazi was the mastermind of the mayhem that led to the incident of May 9 and thugs associated with him burnt military installations and desecrated monuments of the martyrs. He said the hostility of Imran Niazi towards Pakistan was exposed, adding a conspiracy was hatched and Nawaz Sharif was sentenced in false cases to oust him from politics.

Now all that conspiracy had been unearthed and it had been established that the mastermind of the conspiracy was former judge Saqib Nisar, he said adding that the name of Nawaz Sharif was not among the 400 persons mentioned in the Panama Papers but he was falsely convicted.

He said judges did not take suo moto notice to determine the role of Saqib Nisar in the conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif and his party leaders, who were put behind bars and denied bails for years in fabricated cases.

He demanded that through a transparent and all-encompassing process of accountability, all those who waged a vendetta against Nawaz Sharif and his party and their families should be held accountable.

He said the decision to send Nawaz Sharif abroad was taken by a medical board, formed by Imran Niazi. In the coming weeks, Nawaz Sharif would come back to Pakistan and face the cases against him.

He said Imran Niazi was not willing to face court in corruption cases, including scams of wheat, sugar, Malam Jabba, billion tree tsunami, hydel power projects and bus project in Peshawar in which there was an irrefutable evidence against him. Imran Niazi was responsible for damaging Pakistan’s economy and its relations with friendly and brotherly countries.

He lamented that the courts delayed the project of Orange Line Train for years while refusing to investigate and hold hearings in cases of Peshawar Bus Transit project. There was a NAB-Niazi nexus and the nexus destroyed the economy of Pakistan.

The prime minister said recent amendments to the accountability law were introduced to protect politicians, bureaucrats and officials from misguided accountability in future and to give them an opportunity to serve the country. He said officers were not ready to work due to the fear of NAB and businessmen and investors had stopped making investments, so the amendments to the law were necessary.

He said he and Nawaz Sharif did not resort to victimisation of political opponents, and they and their families also did not take advantage of the amendment to the accountability law while appearing in courts.

To a question, Shehbaz said in the past, politicians and technocrats became caretakers, adding the caretaker prime minister should be impartial, so that nobody could raise objections on the results of the next elections.

He said according to the Constitution and law, it was the responsibility of the Election Commission to announce the date for elections. Pakistan needed national integrity and a charter of economy, so it could focus its resources on economic revival and progress, he added.

Shehbaz said the Council of Common Interests would give approval to the population census. The population was a big challenge for Pakistan as huge resources were needed to give employment to millions of people and usher in an economic revolution, he opined.

The previous hybrid system of governance was devastating for the country, he said adding all the institutions should work within the ambit of the Constitution.

Shehbaz said seat adjustment was possible in the elections with the allied parties and PMLN had formed a committee comprising Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq and others to take decisions related to elections. He said Nawaz Sharif would be the candidate of the PMLN for the post of prime minister.

Meanwhile, at a momentous event on Sunday held at the Governor’s House Lahore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated six transformative projects aimed at propelling progress of the area.

The ceremony witnessed the unveiling of crucial initiatives focusing on healthcare, transportation and energy infrastructure in the region.

Accompanied by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, federal and provincial ministers, chief secretary and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kashif Anwar, the PM marked the soft launch of several development projects.

The centre piece of the event was grand unveiling of Rs50 billion Medical City, a state-of-the-art healthcare complex, designed to revolutionise medical services in the province. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities and advanced equipment, the Medical City holds the potential to elevate healthcare standards and cater to a larger number of patients.

Another major project launched by the PM was the Rs52 billion National Health Support Programme. It would ensure access to healthcare for the underprivileged sections of society, providing essential medical services and financial support to those in need, fostering a healthier and more inclusive society.

The PM also inaugurated Rs30 billion Population Welfare Programme, which seeks to create awareness and provide resources for promoting family planning, contributing to a balanced demographic growth and sustainable development.

The prime minister also broke ground for the SL-3 Lahore Ring Road project. The ambitious venture was expected to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity, making commuting more efficient and convenient for the residents of Lahore.

In addition, the Shahdara-to-Kala Shah Kaku Metro Bus extension project was also launched, expanding the existing public transportation system to cater to a wider population and promote eco-friendly commuting options.

The PM inaugurated the 1,263-MW Punjab Thermal Power Plant in Jhang, a crucial milestone in the country’s pursuit of sustainable and affordable energy. With the capacity to generate 10 billion inexpensive units annually, the power plant would play a vital role in meeting the region’s energy demands. LCCI President Kashif Anwar appreciated the PM and the provincial government for their forward-thinking initiatives.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif Sunday held a meeting with Punjab administrative officers at the Governor’s House and discussed various issues related to the province. The meeting was attended by Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi, Governor Balighur Rehman, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab Dr Usman and other senior officials.