Opposition no more united, claims CM

Tells PA premier assured opposition of consultation but parties

made ToRs according to own interests

LAHORE

Addressing Punjab Assembly on Wednesday in a surprise attendance, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that those who were criticising the government without due cause wanted to impede people's progress and prosperity.

He said that such elements were not at all concerned with the development and prosperity of the common man. However, he expressed his willingness to go till the end for the welfare of the public and ensure development projects continued unhindered.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he was serving the people of Pakistan with honesty and integrity."Certain elements are trying to stop us on our road to development and for this, they are indulging in negative politics," he said.

Shahbaz Sharif praised the Metro train system and said that it was a great and unique plan to provide benefit to the common man. He said that China had issued funds amounting to Rs 33 billion which, despite opponents' propaganda, was a huge victory. It is pertinent to note here that both the chief minister and his brother Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had come under pressure due to the recent Panama Leaks controversy with offshore companies being traced under the names of Nawaz Sharif’s children Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz. Calls to step down by the opposition parties have intensified in recent weeks after being repeatedly accused of money laundering and tax evasion.

On Wednesday in the House, the chief minister said that terms of references (ToRs) prepared by the opposition over Panama Leaks only targeted one person, not corruption. Shahbaz Sharif said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presented himself for accountability and announced formation of judicial commission to probe Panama Leaks despite the fact, his name was not in the database. 

Th CM said that the premier assured to hold consultation with opposition but the parties made ToRs according to their own interests as there was no section against those who got their loans written off.

He said the joint opposition was no more united. Talking about Sharif family’s assets, he said that his father along with brothers moved to Lahore from India in the 1930s and established Ittefaq Foundry in 1938.  "In 1972, my family was not included in 22 richest families," Shahbaz Sharif added. He said that the nation only wanted final decision regarding corruption, fake degrees and illegal land mafia which were obstructing country’s prosperity. He also demanded investigation against corrupt leaders and said that the nation would grab the collars of those trying to hinder country’s development. He said that several political leaders denounced China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) worth 46 billion dollars by terming it ‘fake’ and ‘lie’.

However, more than 34 million dollars are reserved for electricity projects only, he said. Shahbaz said maximum solar energy projects had been started in Bahawalpur under the umbrella of CPEC and hoped that loadshedding would end by 2018.

Soon after the chief minister’s speech ended, the Leader of Opposition PTI MPA Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed rose to make his speech. The chief minister left the House, on which, the opposition members rose up from their chairs and chanted ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans. Rasheed, however, continued with his speech stating that the claims made by the chief Mminister were baseless regarding public welfare. He alleged that the government was running away from justice in the Panama Leaks inquiry. Quorum was pointed out soon after Rasheed’s speech, with the House failing to have the required number of members needed for a session.

Meanwhile, the House also passed the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drugs Authority Bill 2016, with all six amendments proposed by the opposition being denied. The Punjab Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 2016 laid by the provincial government after the APS tragedy in Peshawar was also extended for a period of 90 days with immediate effect. 

The session will resume today.