Govt would stick to its no-trade policy with Israel, as long as Palestinian people are not given their rights: PM Shehbaz
Says Imran Khan had ‘put the country’s reputation at stake’ & was destroying the country’s relations with other countries
Thanks China for helping Pakistan to save it from becoming default
Says coalition parties expressed no confidence in SC bench hearing polls delay case
Says there were serious allegations of corruption against certain member of the bench
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday denied the “condemnable” rumours that the government had any trade relations with Israel, saying Pakistan would “stick to its stance until Palestinians get their rights”.
Addressing his party’s parliamentary meeting at the Parliament House, PM Shehbaz Sharif slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for making “serious allegations” against his government and countries that were helping Pakistan in trying times.
Recently, the government had come under heat for rumours spreading on social media that it had resumed trade relations with Israel — allegations that the Foreign Office and the Commerce Ministry categorically denied.
Speaking on the matter at the parliamentary committee, PM Shehbaz Sharif too said that the rumours were “unfounded” and “condemnable” and he reaffirmed that the government would stick to its no-trade policy with Israel, as long as Palestinian people are not given their rights.
“What does one businessman have to do with the government of Pakistan’s policy?” clarifying that the person to conduct trade with Israel was one lone man.
Moreover, he said that the PTI chief’s ambit of accusations extended to countries who are on friendly terms with Pakistan and assisting in times of need, including China and Saudi Arabia.
The premier further said: “I cannot tell you the kind of things that were said about China in private meetings.”
Defending China, he said: “China has invested $30 billion in the country, yet false accusations were made against the same helper. Along with the rollover given by the state banks in China, they have given us Rs2 billion recently to assist the country. We currently owe China Rs450 billion. Any other country would have taken us to an international court by now.”
PM Shehbaz Sharif further said that the deposed prime minister had “put the country’s reputation at stake” and was destroying the country’s relations with other countries.
During the meeting, the prime minister also commented on the “dire” condition that the country is in and pledged to help bring the country out of its various crises under the “guidance” of PML-N supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
“We have always brought the country out of difficult situations,” he said, adding that while the situation is “dire”, his party’s intentions are “clear”, and the situation would improve.
Turning to the matter of the recent review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the PML-N president said: “The IMF has tied the government’s hands and feet. We have accepted the conditions that the outgoing administration made and are currently discussing the final conditions.”
He then accused the ousted Imran-led government of creating the inflation the country is battling with, trapping the nation in an “economic quagmire,” and threatening judges.
“The inflation is a result of the IMF programme the previous government agreed with,” he said.
“Imran Khan signed the IMF programme on strict conditions and then violated the programme and suspended it,” he lambasted, accusing Imran Khan of “conspiring to ruin” the fund’s programme.
“He conspired with his people to encourage KP and Punjab chief ministers to deny signing on the IMF deal.”
Moreover, the PM lauded friendly nations for helping Pakistan during its tough times and expressed the fiscal crisis in the country was multi-dimensional.
“The country faced a catastrophic flood situation and Rs100 billion were given to flood victims by the federal government alone,” he said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also lamented the state of the country’s economy over the span of time that the PTI was in power.
He said everything had become more expensive, the rupee depreciated drastically, the IMF agreement was broken and projects of CPEC were hindered.
The prime minister also slammed the PTI chief for “lying to and cheating the nation” in the matter of the Toshakhana gift.
He then paid tribute to the commitment and loyalty of his party’s members. “We have sacrificed politics to save the country,” he said, adding that if Pakistan is saved, all will be well.
He assured the members of the meeting that there was ample wheat in stock in the country at the moment.
“A few months ago, there were rumours that we were out of wheat. That was merely a lie. We have been well-prepared from the get-go.”
Premier Shehbaz Shehbaz also added that the outgoing government had faced a shortage of wheat soon before it ouster since it was ill-prepared.
“We have launched a huge programme in Punjab to assist and aid 10 crore people in the country and would provide free food. Other provinces are also doing what they can. The situation will improve as the management is improving.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the resolve to bring Pakistan out of history’s worst economic crisis. The Prime Minister said Imran Khan not only damaged our economy but also our foreign relations with friendly countries including China and USA.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said we have started the biggest project of the history in Punjab that would benefit 100 million people. Under the program poor people will get three bags of flour free of cost. He said on the same pattern, programs will be launched in other provinces.
Criticizing the policies of Imran Khan towards our friendly country China, he thanked China for helping Pakistan to save it from becoming default.
PM Shehbaz Sharif directed the members of the national assembly to not go back to their native areas and should stay in Islamabad as the assembly session could be convened at anytime.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has maintained that all the leaders of coalition parties in the federal government, during a meeting chaired by him in Lahore last week, had expressed their no confidence in the Supreme Court bench’s hearing the suo motu case of polls delay.
Taking part in the National Assembly session, the prime minister endorsed the views of Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarrar regarding the expression of no confidence in the constitution of the bench.
He said Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another member of the bench, had recused himself from the bench. He requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a full court sans two judges as it would be acceptable to the nation.
The prime minister said there were serious allegations of corruption against certain member of the bench and by including him in the bench what message was given to the nation. He stressed that the law of equality was applicable to all.
The prime minister said Imran Niazi during his rule had no other engagement but to spend his energies on devising nefarious schemes to send opposition leaders to jails. He mentioned that Imran had sent him to jail twice and was trying to send him for the third time.
Earlier, the law minister briefed the House about the proceedings in the apex court and reiterated that the coalition parties had already conveyed to the court to constitute a full court to hear the instant case.