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Thursday March 28, 2024

Over three dozen leaders are out of the country

By Zahid Gishkori
July 04, 2016

ISLAMABAD: At a time when the Pakistani politics seems poised for a storm, over three dozen top public office holders are out of the country for various reasons.

The long Eid holidays are also going to almost paralyse the country for 10 days. The most significant among these political leaders is Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for medical treatment. Nawaz and his family had celebrated Eid with the Saudi royal family last year. 

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said: “Mian Sahib will be among the masses after Eid. As soon as the PM gets doctors’ permission, he would fly to Pakistan. The nation will witness that Mian Sahib continues Pakistan’s journey of development and construction.”

Among other top leaders is the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who will also spend his Eid abroad. He had also celebrated his Eid in Dubai last year.  PPP leader Senator Saeed Ghani said the former president had already directed the entire leadership of the party to look after all the affairs. 

“We are among people — this is what we have been directed. Zardari Sahib will be among his followers soon,” he said but did not give any timeline when he will get back home. President Mamnoon Hussain is performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani is also in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.  Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq will also be leaving for Saudi Arabia next week, informed officials said. 

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Abbasi, Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Durrani, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Senator Sirajul Haq, PML-N MNA Mian Abdul Manan, PPP Senator Ejaz Dharma, JI MNA Ayesha Syed, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaiser, ex JUI-F MNA Hafiz Husain Ahmed and JUI-F AJK President Saeed Yousaf, Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi from Fata and his brother MNA Shah Ji Gul Afridi, PTI MPA Fazl Hakim from Swat, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) MPA from Charsadda Sultan Muhammad Khan and Pakistan Muslim League-Q MPA Abdul Karim Nosherwani are said to be performing Umrah. They may return to Pakistan before or after Eid. Senator Aurangzaib from Fata will celebrate Eid in Dubai.