Editor-in-Chief arrest looks like political victimisation: Gilani

MULTAN: Former premier and PPP senior leader Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the NAB should perform within the ambit of law and Constitution.

Talking to journalists at his residence on Tuesday, he said that when he was prime minister, he continued impartiality of the NAB and saved its sanctity as an institution.

Gilani criticised the arrest of Jang/Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and paid tribute to his services for free media. He said that the case against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was looking like political victimisation and it was the result of political retaliation against him. "The world media is demanding his release", he remarked. He lauded the services of doctors and other medical professionals for providing treatment to corona suspects and confirmed patients and asked the PPP workers to help out people affected by lockdown with an open heart. "This is duty of the PPP workers to help out people affected by lockdown", he added.

He showed his concern over Faisal Edhi tested positive and said it was very serious matter. He paid a rich tribute to the Sindh PPP government and said that they donated face masks and other equipment to the Nishtar and Muzaffargarh Tayyip Erdogan hospitals on request. He said that the doctors in Multan were fighting against corona without protective kits.

He said when he was prime minister, the PPP government reconciled with all the political parties. The PTI should develop consensus with the opposition parties during the current corona crisis, he suggested.

The PPP government combat with destruction of floods, rains and launched the Zarb-e-Azab operation against terrorism, he continued.

The PPP government focused on agriculture and strengthened the sector, the former premier said.

The peasants were happy and prosperous in the PPP rule, he said. The prosperity of farmers means 70pc prosperity of the country, he added.

The PTI government should move ahead with all the four provinces, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as the unity among all would defeat coronavirus, he hoped.

Gilani demanded the government ensure safe return of the Pakistanis stranded abroad. He said that he would not criticise the government in the present time of ordeal. "This is the time to fight against corona unanimously with unity", he added.

He said that changing the name of Benazir Income Support Programme would not matter. The BISP was established after survey of deserving families, he told. The unique aspect of the BISP was that beneficiaries were not lined up to receive their financial assistance, Gilani added.

Former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the PPP had distributed the relief items through the Pakistan Army during floods because it was the safe way of transferring relief package to the needy persons. The PTI government formed the Tiger Force, which had become disputed before its creation, he maintained. The PTI government was obliging the party workers through Tiger Force, he alleged.

He asked the government to announce special relief package for farmers because heavy rains had destroyed wheat crops.

Responding to a query, he said that the PPP was waiting for complete report on flour and sugar. After that, the PPP would release its official stance, he clarified.

Responding to anther query, he said that first the government allegedly destroyed construction sector now giving it relief. The fuel prices across the world were going to decline and this was the good option with the government to give relief to the masses, he added.