02 NEWS
Friday, 13 January, 2017
PM’S NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMME LAUNCHED IN NAROWAL
STOP TELLING LIES, PM aSKS OPPONENTS SayS hiS govt doing well nAroWAL
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RIME Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called upon his political opponents to stop telling lies on daily basis, and not to hinder the way of country’s economic development. “Some politicians tell lies on daily basis. There is no break for them, they hurl dirty accusations, which have no basis and truth. This nation is progressing. Don’t hinder the way of this development,” he said while speaking at the launching ceremony of PM’s National Health Programme here. The prime minister said owing to his government’s prudent policies over the last three and half years, the backbone of terrorists had been broken, electricity loadshedding had been curtailed to a large extent and Pakistan had been put on the course of development. With inflation on the downward trend, stock market has been included in the world’s best performing stock markets. Pakistan’s economy was expected to grow at around 5.5pc during this fiscal year (2016 17), he added. The prime minister said that Pak-
SayS country put on path to economic progreSS
istan’s economic performance was also being recognised by the world. “If you cannot assist us in this development, at least stop creating hurdles,” he remarked with reference to his political opponents. He, however, added, “People have become much aware about national affairs; can judge the truth and lie; and cannot be deceived by telling lies.” Nawaz Sharif said, ‘When he took over in 2013, the country was facing various challenges such as severe electricity shortage and the menace of terrorism. In 2013, there were street protests due to 16 to 18 hours electricity loadshedding,” he said, adding, “The present government has checked this problem to a large extent over the last three years and was working hard to completely eliminate loadshedding by 2018.” He said that he was very happy to visit Narowal this time around, as he had come for a noble cause of launching the National Health Programme for the under-privileged segments of this area. “I have long been wishing to do something for the poor segments of society, who cannot afford to get them treated even for minor ailments what to
talk of major diseases like cancer, heart problems etc.,” he added. The prime minister said that 160,000 families of Narowal were being provided with NHP (National Health Programme) cards, which would help them getting free medical care in public and private hospitals. “Poor people sell their properties for medical treatment; even have to borrow due to lack of required amounts; and cannot afford education of their children, who have to do petty jobs for
their survival. These are injustices and inequalities of our society, which we have to address,” he remarked. He said, “This country is like a family in which everyone should have equal rights. If there is any problem in a house, we have to address it”. He thanked all those including his daughter Maryam Nawaz, Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar, Punjab chief minister and others for assisting him in the successful launching of the NHP in Narowal and other areas. The prime minister said that under the national health programme the government would provide 250,000 per annum as medical cover for a poor family, adding, however, if the amount did not cater to the need, in case of major disease, more funds would be made available from Baitul Mall. The programme in Punjab has been launched in four districts and would benefit 134,000 families in Narowal alone. Health care cards would be provided to the families through a transparent computerised system. The programme was launched in Rahim Yar Khan and has been expanded to Narowal, Khanewal and Sargodha, benefitting 3.5 million patients.
PM is ‘innocent’, says counsel ContInueD froM pAge 01 Khan argued that the family business was transferred to Nawaz Sharif’s son, Hussain Nawaz after the death of Mian Sharif, the PM’s father. “Nawaz Sharif had nothing to do with it,” he said. “If there was no connection, then how does the money trail lead to the London flats?” Justice Khosa inquired. “There are two different money trails before us. How did the money go from Jeddah and then to London? And how did the money go from Dubai to London and then to Qatar?” The PM’s counsel denied Nawaz Sharif had been a director of the family’s Dubai factory. “How can we believe that he was never the director?” Justice Khosa asked. “No documents have been submitted before us to prove he was never
the director.” Khan told the bench that the Dubai factory was established after taking a loan, upon which he admonished by a judge for presenting documents in court that did not make this apparent. The counsel asked the court to form a commission “to go to Dubai and review allegations made against the prime minister”. The counsel informed the bench that the PM was neither a shareholder, nor a guardian, nor a recipient of sales proceeds, nor a director in the companies under scrutiny. Both bench and counsel of PM Nawaz Sharif didn’t see eye to eye when the latter argued that Dubai Steel Mills were founded on a bank loan. “The court should form a commission that’ll review the allegations by visiting Dubai,” Makhdoom replied when he was told that the onus lies on him to prove how those mills were built. The bench placed the onus of proof on respondents as Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan pointed out the premier has admitted to the ownership of Dubai properties. However, Makhdoom differed on the count that providing documentary evidence lies squarely on the petitioner in this case. Justice Ijazul Hassan observed that the prime minister had admitted to owning Dubai mills and said all records are available. “Now the burden of proof is on you,”
he told the PM’s counsel. Khan was of the opinion that presenting documents and proof is the petitioner’s job. Justice Khosa remarked that the ‘prime minister’s lawyer will have to satisfy the court’ regarding the ownership of the Dubai factory. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed told Makhdoom Khan that the Panamagate case is based on contradictions in statements made by the prime minister on the floor of the National Assembly after the Panama leaks last year. The judge, referring to the plaintiff’s allegations that Nawaz Sharif provided incorrect statements, told the counsel, “If you disagree, then you will have to prove it.” “If there is a small mistake in the speech, it can be overlooked. But if mistakes were made on purpose, there will be serious consequences,” Justice Ejaz Afzal warned. “We do not believe that the speech was wrong but if something was hidden on purpose, we will consider that to be a half truth,” Justice Khosa said. “Will Article 66 be a hindrance to the court’s review of the PM’s speech?” Justice Ejaz asked. The counsel told the judge that the prime minister in his speech was giving an overview of his family’s business. “He was not taking oath or answering a specific question,” Khan said. “The prime minister’s speech was not a statement in the court.” Both the PM’s counsel and bench delved deep in Representation of People’s Act 1976 and circumstances that can lead to an elected representative’s disqualification from office. Makhdoom, at one point, also argued that the prime minister can’t be disqualified by Supreme Court on the basis of statements and claims. Makhdoom Khan said that there are two ways to remove the prime minister: the first is by the submission of a no confidence motion. The second requires that members of the National Assembly prove that the PM is dishonest. “The Supreme Court, however, can-
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not disqualify him based on the statements and claims of others,” Khan said. “Who was speaking the truth: the prime minister or Hussain Nawaz?” Justice Ejaz inquired. “If one of them has told the truth, the other has lied.” “The record the prime minister referred to in his address has still not come forth,” Justice Gulzar observed. Justice Khosa remarked, “The prime minister had said his life is an open book. There seem to be some pages missing from that book.” Makhdoom Khan finished the day’s arguments by telling the court that the matter of the money trail has nothing to do with Nawaz Sharif. “The business belongs to the [premier’s] children. The record will be presented by their lawyer.” “The lawyer of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz will present details about the business and the money trail record,” Makhdoom Khan said. Sheikh Rashid also honed his newly-found skills at arguing before the highest court of the land. The hearing on Thursday, however, reverted back to the serious atmosphere as seasoned advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan despite facing tough queries from the bench kept his wits about and continued arguing till the hearing was adjourned. Due to limited number of seats in the court, both the government and opposition leaders relied on loyalist who held their seats every time they had to leave the courtroom. Even though Naeem Bukhari completed his arguments on Wednesday, the PTI supremo Imran Khan along with his entourage was present in the courtroom on Thursday. He was accompanied by Jehangir Khan Tarin, Shah Mehmood Qureishi, Shafqat Mehmood, Arif Alvi and for the first time Senator Azam Swati. From the government side Special Assistant to PM Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan, State Minister for Information Marrium Aurangzeb, Tallal Chaudhary, Daniyal Aziz and others were present. The hearing was adjourned till today (Friday).
Impossible for PM to avoid accountability: Imran Khan ISLAMABAD HAMID KHAN WAZIR
Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has expressed satisfaction over the Panama Leaks case hearing and claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been left with no option but to answer the questions relating to Panamagate. Senior leadership of the party had a meeting here on Thursday during which various aspects related to the Panama case hearing were discussed. He said that the Panama Leaks case has badly damaged the reputation of the premier and it is impossible for him to avoid accountability, adding that government ministers were making all-out efforts to take the premier out of the hot water. Chairman PTI said that the prime minister would have to answer questions related to the Panama Leaks case and make his position clear to the nation in this regard, which, he said, seemed impossible because his party has submitted solid proofs in the court against the premier and his family. Imran Khan said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has nothing in the case that could help save the prime minister from accountability, but his lawyers are trying to convince the court to clear their client by giving him benefit of doubt. Imran Khan vowed that the Panama case was heading towards right direction and it would be taken to its logical end come what may. He was of the opinion that the nation wanted speedy and unbiased justice. Pakistan can only be steered out of prevailing problems if the menace of corruption is eradicated, he said. The PTI leaders also expressed sorrow and grief over the tragic death of seven labourers and injury to over a dozen others working on the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project. They demanded that those responsible must be taken to task.
‘Imran wants to disrupt development process’ ISLAMABAD APP
Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Thursday that Pakistan would continue its march towards progress and prosperity in coming years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Talking to media persons along with Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) MNA Talal Chaudhry on Thursday, she said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan should understand that Pakistan’s journey towards prosperity cannot be stopped. The country had made achievements in all the sectors under the dynamic leadership of Nawaz Sharif, she added. She said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no link with the Panama Papers case, and added that the properties mentioned in the Panama Papers were not linked with money laundering, tax evasion, concealing assets and plunder of national wealth. Marriyum said the PTI chairman wanted to derail the system and halt the development and progress in the country. She said the PTI had now shifted its focus from the Panama Papers to the prime minister’s speech in the parliament while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N had the similar stance from day one. The minister said Imran Khan was levelling allegations against the third time elected prime minister, who had the honour to make Pakistan the first Islamic nuclear power, executed big infrastructural projects, gave mega health programme, formulated first ever internal security policy, and launched first ever educational forms programme in the country to bring revolution in the sector.