PTI seeks information about salaries ‘paid’ to PML-N media cell

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written to Federal Secretary for Information, seeking information regarding alleged payment of salaries to staff members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’ media cell from the state-run TV and Press Information Department (PID).

Central Secretary Information Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Fawad Chaudhry, in a letter to Federal Secretary Information, has sought details of the reports of alleged misuse of state-run TV and PID’s funds.

Fawad raised questions about the Information Ministry’s silence over the misuse of funds of state run TV and the PID. He wrote that Maryam Nawaz was running the ruling party’s media cell and staff members of this media cell are on PTV and PID’s payroll.

He asked that why Maryam Nawaz’ secretary despite moving abroad after marriage, was getting salary from state run TV. “Is it true that PML-N’s social media team’s members; Nauman, Kainat and Muazzam are on the payroll of state run TV”, he questioned.

Moreover, he put to question the capacity under which a person named Qasim is being paid from PID’s funds.

Fawad Chaudhry, in the letter, sought certified information and a response from the ministry about the questions raised within 21 days, as specified under the Freedom of Information Ordinance.

“PML-N government has totaled billions of dollars to conceal the economic fiasco country is undergoing. Pakistan’s macroeconomic uncertainties are rising and the government has utterly failed in addressing the vulnerabilities”, claimed former state minister for finance and senior PTI leader Omer Ayub, in a statement issued here.

He has criticised the PML-N government for poor economic policies that led country to a mire of crisis. Omer Ayub Khan has stated that the government has spent Rs400 billion over the last one year to keep the value of the rupee artificially pegged at Rs103 per dollar. He went on saying that current account deficit persistently negative and the government is financing it through bank borrowings which resulted in further inflation.

Moreover, he added, the government has reduced private sector credit availability which has led to further revenue shortfall and ultimately a further increase in the fiscal deficit.

Omer Ayub stated that increase in the Current Account and Fiscal Deficit will cause the rupee to slide rapidly to +124 per dollar because, he added, our reserves are effectively negative and we have entered into a Balance of Payment Crisis.

In order to pay for our imports, Omer Ayub Khan said, the only option is to enter the IMF programme with conditionalities, leading to bartering our strategic positions in a lot of areas due to pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The PTI leader said that the result of the economic mismanagement will be hiked inflation which will directly affect the common man. He went on to add that there will be rise electricity and gas prices which is to be paid by the common man. “Poor masses will be forced to buy diesel and kerosene on hiked prices”, he said. He further stated that the prices of fertilizers will subsequently increase which will be paid by farmers

“Rise in circular debt, which is already at Rs1000 billion, that will further lead to short payments to thermal power plants and loadshedding in the summer months”, Omer Ayub Khan maintains. This may bring a revenue shortfall because the industry will not have energy, PTI leader cautioned.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has extended best wishes to Pakistan Super League. “Looking forward to an exciting game of cricket and final at Karachi. Whosoever wins the final, we will celebrate with them,” he said in a message.