Three-time PM coming out as traitor in front of everyone: Murad Saeed

Ag APP

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed said former premier Nawaz Sharif’s statement was read out in the International Court of Justice in a negative light and brought forward the former premier as a traitor by India.

Speaking in the National Assembly Friday, the PTI MNA said, “It is a matter of shame that Nawaz’s statements were run in a negative light in international court. India referenced Nawaz’s statements and it is unfortunate for us that a three-time prime minister of Pakistan came out as a traitor in front of everyone. What can be more unfortunate than that”?

“It is said the assembly will only get in session when a production order for Shahbaz Sharif is issued. It is also said that Shahbaz should be made Public Accounts Committee chairman,” he said. He added, “On the other hand India is issuing threats to Pakistan. From here (Pakistan) the message should be sent that if India initiates war, then we will end it”.

Opposing the demand for issuance of the production order for Saad Rafique, Saeed said, “If a person has not done corruption, he should go to the courts and fight his case”. He said the National Assembly should have sent a strong message to India as it was hurling threats but it was regretful that the Opposition could not rise above its personal agenda.

He said Opposition did not talk about the dangers faced by Pakistan from the border of Afghanistan and other foreign policy challenges. He said the prime minister took up the issue of prisoners in Saudi Arabia and now they were coming back to Pakistan and dignity of the country had increased manifold among the comity of nations.

He held the previous government responsible for the inflated gas bills, adding the circular debt had increased to Rs1200 billion while the deficit of gas companies went up to Rs150 billion.

As he was speaking, Naz Baloch of the PPP pointed out the quorum. Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who was chairing the session asked for counting of members and as the House was not in order, he suspended the proceedings for some time.

Later as the required number of members returned to the House, Suri restarted the proceedings. PML-N member Shahid Khaqan Abbasi earlier spoke in the House and apologised to Speaker Asad Qaiser for making a misstatement about him in a TV programme regarding the NAB.

He said the way Sindh Assembly speaker was taken into custody and his house raided, posed a danger to democracy. Punjab Assembly speaker had similar cases against him. He said the PML-N would be consistent about its position that persons holding constitutional posts should not be arrested in such a manner.

The National Assembly could not start debate on the Finance Supplementary Second Amendment Bill 2019 Friday despite the speaker’s direction. However, the House discussed political issues on points of order in violation of the rules, observed Free and Fair Election Network FAFEN in its daily factsheet.