PTI declares to hold news conference at PID today

ISLAMABAD: The Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Naeemul Haq, on Wednesday announced that his party would hold on Thursday a news conference at the Press Information Department at 3:00pm and would react strongly, in case, it was denied to do so.

If allowed, this will be unprecedented that a political party, which is in the opposition ranks, will be holding a news conference at the PID, usually meant for the cabinet ministers and other government functionaries. This announcement by Naeem has given a new twist to the government-PTI’s ongoing tug of war.    

Speaking to media persons here, he said that the state-owned television should also allocate time for his party Chairman Imran Khan to address the nation. Naeem rejected outright the allegations levelled against his party leader by the ministers earlier.

He claimed even opponents of Imran acknowledged honest conduct of Imran, adding the ministers were trying to defend the ruling PML-N chief by using the official resources.Naeem announced that Imran would spell out the party’s policy line on the Panama Leaks during his speech in the National Assembly on Thursday.

He claimed in 1991, a journalist had revealed Nawaz-Husain Company in New York, of which Nawaz Sharif and his spouse were share-holders.About the announcement to get the Panama Leaks probed by an inquiry commission, he said this would not solve the issue and insisted that Nawaz Sharif would have to appear before it and prove his innocence.

After the leaks about Sharif family’s offshore companies, he claimed the nation wanted immediate resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who, he alleged, was constantly lying to the nation.

Regarding the allegations of misuse of donations of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, he said the hospital’s chief executive would shortly place the facts before the media. Naeem said he was with Imran for the last 33 years and knew well that he had no assets or business abroad.