PML-N, PPP should rid of Nawaz, Zardari: Fawad

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday that Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz had reduced the PPP and PMLN to district-level parties with the PPP confined to interior Sindh and PML-N to central Punjab.

In an interview with Jirga show of Geo News, the minister said that if Pakistan has to be put on path to progress then there should be one point agenda i.e. to rid PML-N, PPP of Nawaz and Zardari and emphasised that the second cadres of both these once big political parties should come forward and control things. He brushed aside the impression that the PPP and Zardari were active in Punjab after a deal with those, who had previously supported the PTI. He also denied the impression that there was any rapprochement between the establishment and Zardari.

Fawad Chaudhry said Zardari was meeting politicians of his age, who had no political future, and claimed the Zardari factor would not benefit the party candidates in elections.

“To win an election, you need to have all the spices available to you, like support in masses then all the institutions, including the establishment, may also be supportive. The major spice hence is public support, which these two parties don’t enjoy, while the PTI and Imran Khan are the only major political realities,” he noted.

He advised the PPP and PMLN to have some retrospection instead of heaping criticism on the government, and claimed that the PTI government was good and even on economic front, the growth was 4 percent and the sentiment was quite positive for it. The minister continued that this year, there would be further increase in the sentiment and certain things at international level, if improved, would also help the government. He did not agree that there was inflation, and pointed out if price hike was 27 per cent, then income would have increased by 37 percent.

The minister contended that 60 percent livelihood was linked to the agriculture sector, which had its income increased, besides construction industry and related sectors.

Regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan calling Osama bin Laden a martyr, the minister clarified that it was a slip of tongue. He explained that the government and the state of Pakistan considered al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden as terrorists and were bound by international laws and obligations.

Fawad also said that Pakistan had voted in favour of the war against terror in the United Nations and Pakistan made the most sacrifices against terrorism. “Pakistan government is very clear on terrorism, al-Qaeda and OBL,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said that to him it would be very difficult for the three countries, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE, which had earlier recognised the Taliban government, to do so again, if they managed control of Kabul through fighting. He said that though the situation had improved after the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but agreed to the interviewer that Pakistan was yet to have complete control over its border with Afghanistan, but things were moving very fast in that direction and the border fencing was also nearing completion for which he highly commended the military leadership.

The minister said that spoiling of relations with China neither suited India nor the US, and added Pakistan could again play its role to reduce tension between China and the US, citing Prime Minister Imran Khan’s interview to New York Times.

He said the prime minister was hopeful of better relations with India, provided it took back its decisions of August 05, 2019 and restored Kashmir’s special status and then things could move towards resolution of the Kashmir issue. He also clarified that the prime minister’s statement was not Modi-specific, as he might not be around in future.

The minister said that as per world laws, the aviation corridor was available to US, but it was not for flying war planes.

APP adds: Fawad Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan has introduced an anti-corruption narrative and launched political struggle against corrupt elements some 21 years ago.

Addressing a public rally at Pind Dadan Khan, he said former Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari fooled the people for many years. Earlier, he said, power was transferred between two political families and the competition between the two for grabbing powers. He said Imran Khan introduced a new culture and developed a new political narrative that he would neither do corruption nor allow anyone to do so. Right now, he said, projects worth billions of rupee were being executed without the reports of receiving any kickbacks. The minister said the PTI government was determined to spend the country's resources on people.