Time to rid Pakistan of political filth: Maryam

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet Tuesday strongly condemned the violent attacks by the PTI workers on security forces and thanked the people of Punjab for rejecting the opposition party’s call for protest on November 24.

During the 20th meeting of the provincial cabinet to discuss and decide on major agenda items here chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the cabinet approved special packages for those martyred and injured in the protest. These packages include a total of Rs29 million for the martyred constables of Punjab Police and Rs1 million each for the inured police and Rangers personnel.

The chief minister noted, “172 police personnel were injured during the brutal protest of PTI workers; most of them are in critical condition. It is shameful to see the condition of injured personnel undergoing treatment at CMH Rawalpindi, and to note that their killers are our people.”

She highlighted, “Seeing violence, the PTI workers brutality is evident. The security personnel were beaten up separately by groups with nailed sticks and rifle butts and their skulls, legs and arms were fractured due to the merciless violence of PTI workers’ mob. The SP was beaten up so mercilessly with nailed sticks that his skull and brain were damaged and his eye was swollen.”

The chief minister said, “I have never seen such a display of brutality, cruelty and violence in my life. A policeman was shot at close range; the bullet went through his body. The martyred constable has small children.”

Maryam vowed, “A special force of 10,000 trained security personnel will be established in Punjab to combat riots. Attacks on Dera Ghazi Khan and Mianwali check-posts have increased.”

The chief minister said, “It is necessary to clean political filth from Pakistan like streets and muhallahs. Punjab did not pay heed to the repeated calls for committing vandalizing and saboteur activities. Not more than two dozen came out from any city to participate in the protest movement. Every call for protest was badly rejected. We have spent previous four years in rallies and processions with the people, not even a pot has ever been broken. Those who claim themselves democratic should also behave in a democratic manner. As long as you continued to hold rallies and processions, no one stopped you.”

She said “The people of KP are our brothers and cannot commit such unlawful activities. They are brave, courageous patriot Pathans. Foreigners were given money to commit violence, arson and vandalism. The brave people of KP are giving money to terrorists. People armed with pistols and rifles came forward and shot at the police. Everyone saw funerals of Rangers and policemen. If a thousand people died, where were their funerals held? The PTI claimed killing of 1,000 people which reduced to 500 and from 500 to 270 and now they claim only 12 people have died. The video of Bushra Bibi’s escape was shown. Why didn’t they make a video of killing people? If Rangers, police personnel or anyone’s life is lost, the prisoner sitting in Adiala prison is responsible for it.”

She said, “Who told you to do wrong and go to jail? If you allow them to play openly, they will commit bloodshed. Dozens of Rangers and police personnel have been badly injured and hospitalized. The mastermind is sitting in jail, now he cannot undergo imprisonment. This is a group of terrorists, it must be eradicated. If you commit unlawful activities then a stern action will be taken against you.

The chief minister said, “I want the KP cabinet to also formulate plans for the welfare of people. The KP cabinet discusses purchase of tear gas shells and vehicles used for attacks. The government employees are made to launch attacks by wearing plain clothes. Ditching a province before the federation is a dangerous trend and a criminal mindset. It is the duty of every Pakistani to eliminate their criminal mindset. Otherwise, it will cause colossal loss in every respect. I want to thank the people of Punjab for rejecting the call for causing unrest chaos. We will foil their nefarious designs with hard work and passion.”

The cabinet approved amendments to laws to declare kite-flying a non-bailable offense, besides approval of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority Rules 2024. It also gave approval for the formal establishment of Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority, besides granting powers of hearing officers to the assistant commissioners under PERA.

The cabinet congratulated Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team for effectively dealing the issues of climate change and smog. The cabinet was briefed, “In a survey by the renowned organization Earth People, 63% of the respondents appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.”

The cabinet was also apprised, “The farmers in Punjab have purchased agricultural inputs worth Rs25 billion through the Kissan Card.” The chief minister said, “Farmers purchased DAP fertilizer of worth Rs16 billion through Kissan Card. For the first time, there was neither shortage of fertilizer nor increase in its prices in Punjab.” She added, “The wheat sowing target has been set at 16.6 million acres in Punjab, 87% of which is complete.”

She highlighted, “First and unique minority card of its kind will be launched in Punjab for which funds have been approved. Through the card, quarterly assistance will be given to 50,000 poor minority families across Punjab. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora thanked the chief minister for her remarkable arrangements for Guru Nanak Jayanti.

The provincial cabinet decided to restart Horse and Cattle Show in Punjab, and approved Rs1.5 billion for the purpose. It also allowed Punjab Police to train 210 Iraqi police officers and officials. The cabinet approved provision of the latest machinery to improve the performance of local bodies across Punjab. It also approved amendment to the Local Government Act and Punjab Local Government Works Rules besides granting approval to build three three-storey towers for government employees in Chaubarji Garden.

The provincial cabinet approved an amount of Rs2.58 billion for establishment of a model market in every district of Punjab, besides approving Rs2.5 billion for the Chief Minister Punjab Transplant Program to transplant liver, kidney, bone marrow and other organs across Punjab.

The cabinet approved recruitment against 276 technical posts of the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority, besides approving replacement of old and obsolete equipment of the Punjab Forensic Science Authority. It also gave approval for recruitment against 464 vacant posts in the Border Military Police and Baloch Levy after 42 years.

The cabinet approved a supplementary grant of Rs192 million for the rehabilitation of Tollington Market in Lahore. It also approved the inclusion of 87 incomplete development projects across Punjab in the Annual Development Program, besides approving an amendment to the Public Private Partnership Act 2024, and Advertisement Policy 2024.

The chief minister launched Pakistan’s first ever ‘Suthra Punjab’ program and also set target of Zero Waste Punjab in three months.