Ms.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for IBNH&LH while talking to various news
channels has said that unprecedented sacrifices of Pakistan and its people
against war on terror could not be decimated as the nation had lost thousands
of lives and lit the lights of sacrifices with the blood of its children. She
said that in view of the obtaining situation there was need for unity and
single voice.
The minister said that the drastic reduction in the
incidents of terrorism in the country was a result of the measures adopted in
consonance with the vision of the former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
and the sacrifices offered by the armed forces and the law enforcing
agencies. She pointed out that in 2013 the number of terrorism incidents
was around 2600 which had considerably come down in 2017. Marriyum said
that the way the political leadership of Pakistan, armed forces, law enforcing
agencies and Police had fought the war against terrorism was unprecedented. She
said that Pakistan had extended all possible cooperation to the international
community in the war against terrorism and also helped any country who
requested for it after 9/11.
The minister appreciated the statement by the Chinese
government urging the international community to acknowledge the sacrifices
made by Pakistan in the war against terrorism. She said that the drastic
decrease in the incidents of terrorism in the country was a sequel to an
unswerving determination, unity and courage exhibited by the entire nation.
Marriyum responding to speculations on visit of Sharifs
to Saudi Arabia said that neither any deal had been struck nor any NRO was
in the offing. She said that the spokesman of the Sharif family had
strongly quashed such speculations. Marriyum said that those who were talking
about Sharif going in exile were actually afraid of the 2018 elections. She
reiterated that a person who had ended darkness in the country, constructed
motorways and infrastructure and given CPEC did not need any deals. Marriyum
said that the PML(N) neither believed in NROs nor would accept any. She
said that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was President of the PML(N) and would spearhead
the election campaign in 2018. Responding to a question the MOS observed that
the party leadership nominated Shahbaz Sharif as its candidate for Prime
Minister on merit as he had shown his exceptional performance to the nation in
all spheres including health, education, infrastructure and energy. The
minister observed that the alliance forged by the political parties against
Nawaz Sharif was a ranting testimony to the fact that his political stature was
much superior to them. She said that the entire opposition was focused on
soiling the reputation of the Sharif family as they did not have anything else
to do. She said that they only knew standing on the container and challenged
them to indicate any project that they had completed in their province. The MOS
said that a terrorist who attacked the parliament and PTV today appeared before
the anti-terrorist court and the nation was grateful to Nawaz Sharif that a
person like Imran who abused the state institutions and was an absconder had to
make an appearance before the court.
She
said that the former Prime Minister set a bright example for respect of law and
the constitution by presenting himself before the court. Responding to a question regarding PML (N) reaction on
disqualification of Nawaz Sharif she said that it was not against the judiciary
but the decision that depicted double standards. She said that on one hand the
Prime Minister was disqualified for not taking salary and on the basis of
‘iqama’ and on the other hand Imran Khan who confessed owning an off-shore
company and kept on changes his stance, was provided relief. The minister said
that when remarks like God father for an elected Prime minister and Sicilian
Mafia for the government would be uttered it would invoke appropriate reaction.
She said that the court accepted the letter from Jemima but did not entertain
the one from the Qatari prince. She said that the petitioners had prayed for
disqualification of the Prime Minister on the basis of money laundering and
looting the national wealth but the court disqualified him on the basis of
‘iqama’. Responding to a question about calling Imran Khan as a terrorist she
said that only a terrorist could attack the parliament and PTV.
The minister said that the PML (N) would seek the mandate
of the people on the basis of its performance whereas the opponents had nothing
to present in the court of the masses. Marriyum remarked that Imran and his
government in KPK could not escape accountability by locking the Ehtsab
Commission as the people of the province would hold them accountable in the
2018 elections.
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