Sugar, wheat crises: Imran should resign, come to court, says Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Leader of National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan should tender resignation over sugar and wheat crises and come to the court if he wants to set an example.

He emphasised on the urgent need to address the threat of coronavirus at wheat procurement centres following the wheat harvest. In a statement Wednesday, Shahbaz while talking to agricultural experts on issues faced by farmers’ community under these circumstances proposed that agricultural loans of farmers with up to 12 acres of land owed to government should be deferred for a year.

The former chief minister said around this time massive and important exercise in the form of wheat procurement takes place every year in Punjab. With Punjab leading the corona disease burden in the country, he opined, risks of its spread are quite significant.

“Long queues and gatherings for the collection of ‘Bardana’ at wheat procurement centres can be potential hotspots,” he observed. Therefore, he suggested that it is essential for the government to revisit the traditional system of wheat procurement from the farmers, devise new SOPs and communicate it clearly. He also condoled the death of Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro, who served at the frontline and embraced martyrdom while treating Covid-19 patients. Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan had set a bright example of self-accountability by making public an inquiry report on wheat and sugar crises.

In a series of tweets, she pointed out that the report was a manifestation that protecting interests of the people and not the individuals was the top priority of the prime minister. Dr Firdous said Prime Minister Imran Khan had proved through his action that nobody was above the law and clarified that neither Imran Khan nor any of his family members owned any sugar mill.

She emphasised that the opposition should commend the action of the prime minister instead of giving political colour to it. She also regretted that the opposition had held hostage institutions like the Competitive Commission of Pakistan and they used to appoint such persons there who could protect their interests. Dr Firdous contended in the past favours were given to a particular group instead of the people but this was not tolerable in Naya Pakistan.