Imran, Tareen got loans written off: Shahbaz

Vows to take wrongdoers to task; sees time to carry out across-the-board accountability; distributes cheques among heirs of cops martyred in operation against Chhotu Gang; inaugurates wheat harvesting drive

ISLAMABAD/BAHAWALPUR/DG KHAN: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and the party’s central leader Jehangir Tareen had got their loans written off. He vowed to take the wrongdoers to task.

Shahbaz stated this during his visit to Rajanpur where he met the heirs of police jawans who were martyred in the operation against the Chhotu Gang. He also inaugurated the wheat harvesting campaign in Khairpur Tamewali.

Talking to ‘The News’ on his way to Rajanpur, Shahbaz Sharif said that there was no allegation of corruption against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said it was surprising that those elements who got loans of millions of rupees written off in the past were levelling allegations and talking of accountability.

He said the time had come for across-the-board accountability of those who got loans written off while those who were clean should not be afraid. He said it was shocking that Khans and Tareens having luxurious vehicles, palaces and factories were talking about poor people and accountability while they had misappropriated public money by getting their loans written off.

He said these elements were in a state of fear, worrying if the energy crisis was resolved by 2018, what would happen to their political careers. He said the masses had strongly rejected the sit-in of 2014 and their new conspiracies would also meet the same fate.

In reply to a question,Sharif believed in transparency. He said that he was ready to face any punishment if corruption of even a single penny was proved against him. Shahbaz Sharif went to Police Line to meet the families of the police jawans who were martyred in Kutcha operation in Rajanpur. He announced financial assistance of Rs5 million to the heirs of martyred police officials and also gave a sum of Rs25 lakh for purchase of the house. Talking to the police jawans, he said that they would have to follow the example of the martyrs. He said that the blood of the martyred police officials would not go waste.

The police jawans while talking to chief minister said that his visit had further raised their morale. Shahbaz Sharif said that they equally shared their grief. He said, “Look after of the families of Shuhada is our responsibility and Punjab government will bear the educational expenses in colleges and universities.”

He said that martyrdom is priceless, however, the government had evolved a comprehensive policy to meet their economic and social requirements. He said that the status of Shuhada has also been acknowledged in the Holy Quran. He said, “The nation salutes supreme sacrifices of Shuhada.” 

He said that the principle of honesty and hard work would be adopted to make Pakistan a developed and prosperous country.  The families of martyrs while talking to Punjab chief minister thanked him for assistance in the hour of need. 

Addressing Police Darbar in Rajanpur, the chief minister said that the police officials who embraced martyrdom in operation Zarb-e-Ahan against criminal elements had set a glorious example of courage and valour which would be source of inspiration forever. He said that this example would also evolve guiding principles for the future. He said that this example proved that luxuries of the world and incentives are nothing as compared to dutifulness.

At Khairpur Tamewali, he inaugurated wheat harvesting campaign. Addressing the peasants, the chief minister said that ruthless accountability of looters of national resources and those who got loans written off would be held. He said that sit-ins failed in the past and these elements would also fail in future. 

He said that they were afraid if projects were completed their political future would also come to end. He said that process of wheat procurement had been made transparent and the rights of small growers would be safeguarded at any cost. He said that farmers would be made prosperous during next two years through historic package of 100 billion rupees. He said that there was no allegation of corruption of even a single penny against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. 

The chief minister said that in order to facilitate the farmers, presence of representatives of growers at procurement centers had been made compulsory while grievances of growers would be redressed through registration of farmers through computerised system and citizens’ feedback. He said that the support price of wheat had been fixed at Rs1300 a maund. He said that 40 lakh ton wheat would be procured this year with a sum of Rs130 billion and procurement process had been started at 377 centers. 

The chief minister also announced increase in subsidy on Sastay tractors for small farmers.  Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada, provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Dr Farrukh Javed, Malik Iqbal Channer, assembly members and farmers were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif while talking about SHO Hanif Ghauri who embraced martyrdom in operation against criminal elements burst into tears. He said that the last words of the martyred inspector were, “I wish I had a bullet so that I could send you to hell”.  The chief minister said that nation was proud of such brave persons.