Wednesday, 27 January, 2021 I 13 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 209 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
'Govt responsible for conductinG transparent inquiry into broadsheet issue' g
Faraz says NRO compromised Pakistan's moral values
ISLAMABAD
f
Staff RepoRt
eDeRaL Information minister shibli Faraz has said that is a good thing that the Broadsheet LLC scandal has become so popular, adding that the “Broadsheet
is same an issue as was Panama Leaks”. stressing that the commission convened to investigate the issue would soon “expose those involved in corruption because it is the duty of the government” during a press conference, the minister emphasised that the incumbent government had nothing to do
with this scandal. he then added: “It is our responsibility to conduct transparent inquiry into this scandal.” moreover, Faraz announced that the commission would comprise of only former supreme Court (sC) judge azmat saeed sheikh. Previously, he had stated that the commission would include one representative each from the attorney general of Pakistan (agP) Office and the Federal Investigation agency (FIa). Faraz said that the committee would now be a commission constituted under the Commission of Inquiry act, 2017. The minister said that the objective of the one-member commission was to look at every aspect and “expose the people for whom this [Broadsheet] contract was signed”. he did not provide a reason for the change in the inquiry body’s
Zardari proposes joint-candidature for Senate elections g
The FINaL DeCIsION ON The maTTeR OF JOINT CaNDIDaTes wOuLD Be TaKeN DuRINg The meeTINg OF The PDm sCheDuLeD FOR FeBRuaRy 4 ISLAMABAD Mian abRaR
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Cochairman and former president asif ali Zardari has reportedly proposed to the Pakistan Democratic movement (PDm) that the opposition would benefit from a joint-candidature in the upcoming senate elections. The final decision on this matter would be taken during the meeting of the PDm scheduled for February 4. This meeting is also likely to discuss the noconfidence motion proposed by party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. an informed source told Pakistan Today that the PDm chief maulana Fazlur Rehman has contacted Pakistan muslim League-Nawaz (PmL-N) supreme leader Nawaz sharif as well as Zardari in an attempt to bridge the differences between the leaders of the major parties of the alliance regarding the long march. Fazl made an effort to convince the PPP leader for the long march, however, Zardari did
not give in and rather proposed that the PDm’s major parties – PmL-N, PPP and Jamiat ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JuI-F) should contest senate polls as an alliance. The source said that Fazl first contacted Nawaz sharif by phone and discussed important issues, including the strategy of the long march against the government. The source said that during the talks, the leaders of the top PDm parties discussed the strategy to make the antigovernment movement effec-
tive, including the senate elections. Later, Fazl told media that the PDm is not negotiating with the government or the establishment. “If anyone wants to talk to us, they should come forth and meet our demands. There is an option of tabling no-confidence motion against the prime minister but it does not seem to be practical. we have asked the PPP to convince the PDm allies on this proposal,” the JuI-F said while responded to a question.
STORY ON PAGE 03
Indian farm protesters battle police to plant flags at historic Red Fort NEW DELHI agencieS
Thousands of Indian farmers protesting against agricultural reforms on Tuesday overwhelmed police and stormed into the historic Red Fort complex in New Delhi after tearing down barricades and driving tractors through roadblocks. Police fired tear gas in an unsuccessful bid to force the protesters back. One protester was
Kashmiris observe blacK day on indian republic day ISLAMABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and the world over observed the Indian Republic Day as Black Day on Tuesday to draw the international community’s attention towards unlawful and forcible Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Staff RepoRt
STORY ON PAGE 05 killed, a witness said, and Delhi police said 86 officers had been
injured across the city.
STORY ON PAGE 05
composition. “The time has come for everyone to find out who played what role in the economic ruin of the country [and] the network of debts that was laid,” he said, adding that all such alleged corrupt practices would become apparent in 45 days after the commission completes its probe. It is pertinent to note that the opposition had protested the appointment of shiekh as head of the committee prior to this announcement. The opposition parties have claimed that, as the former deputy prosecutor general of the anti-graft body, shiekh was unacceptable in this role. During the conference, Faraz
also expressed regret over the fact that the country had adopted a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) culture and many corrupt elements had been allowed to go off scot-free. “The National Reconciliation Ordinance compromised Pakistan’s moral values,” he said, adding people now living in a culture where committing huge corruption is not considered wrong at all, and those who don’t corrupt themselves are considered losers. he said that the NRO has always “pushed the country backwards,” because whenever the rulers of this country were charged with corruption, they saved themselves by using the NRO.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03