Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Tuesday said that the opposition parties did not have the guts or prowess to overthrow the present democratically elected government with their so-called protest movement.
Replying to a question during a media briefing on the decisions of the federal cabinet meeting, he said that for agitation in politics, there was a need of leadership, which the opposition lacked. “The opposition’s leadership can give their party workers only false hope.”
Fawad said an opposition leader like Imran Khan was needed who really upset the then government by his bold and courageous leadership, adding that most of the political leaders in opposition were ‘daily-wagers’ who only wanted to pass time.
He said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been giving deadlines to topple the government for the past three years. He recalled that when the PTI came into power, Fazl in the very first year reached Islamabad along with his supporters with the false hope to topple the government. “Since then, he has been giving dates.”
About Rana Shamim affidavit in the Islamabad High court, Fawad said it was proved beyond any iota of doubt how big Sicilian mafia Nawaz Sharif and family were. He said Nawaz Sharif would never return home voluntarily, rather the government would bring him back after the finalisation of the agreement with the British government.
The minister said that when former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq issued the statement of bringing Nawaz Sharif back, the Sharif family somehow got worried. To another question, he said that no mini-budget was in the offing, as only adjustments would be made.
He said the government was forced to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to the loot and plunder of former regimes of PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. He said the opposition instead of mere point-scoring, should come up with an alternative solution if they had any. Sharing details of the decisions made by the cabinet, he disclosed that it approved the country’s first-ever National Security Policy.
For the first time in the National Security Policy, the minister said an economic strategy had been linked with geostrategic policy, adding if the economy of a country was not strong, its security could not be guaranteed. “Until the common man is satisfied with the economic, social and legal situation, the security of the country will remain in danger,” he said. He said work on the policy was initiated in 2014 that got approval in 2021, which meant it took almost 9 years in its preparation and approval after input from 18 different ministries. The policies of other ministries, including internal policy and food security policy, were also linked with the National Security Policy, he said.
Fawad said the cabinet was given a briefing on urea production, as the agriculture sector was the top priority of the government. The minister said despite the gas crisis, the government provided gas to urea plants to ensure its availability in the country and this year record production of urea was witnessed. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had laid the foundation of a government based on transparency, and the assets of politicians and their families were before the public to see.
The minister said that on the recommendation of the Finance Ministry, the cabinet gave approval to the names of the members of new board of directors of House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC). He said that the cabinet gave approval to the bill for increasing coordination among various educational boards.
He said the cabinet also gave approval to the proposal for the appointment of Muhammad Asim for the post of executive member of PEMRA.
The minister said that the cabinet also gave approval to the constitution of a joint investigation team for investigation into the killing of journalist Nazim Jokhio, who was killed in Karachi. He said that criminal investigation into his murder case had been compromised to save the killers.
He said that the cabinet approved the proposal to convert Citizen Club in F-9 Park to Gandhara Heritage and Cultural Centre, and the PM would head its management committee. He said that the cabinet approved the proposal to send to Cuba made-in-Pakistan Covid-related medical equipment worth Rs 23 million. The consignment included facemasks, sanitisers and personal protective equipment.
