–PM’s aide says PML-N supremo’s bail was conditional to his compliance with the local authorities
–Says US-Taliban deal vindicates PM Imran’s stance of dialogue being viable solution for Afghan conflict
–Says measures underway to bring inflation down
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to approach the authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) for the extradition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing a press conference in Sialkot, the PM’s aide said that Nawaz, who was allowed to go to the UK for medical treatment, failed to provide his medical reports to the Punjab government despite the fact that his exit was conditional to his compliance with the local authorities. “Now, the time has come that he should be brought back the country,” she added.
She said that the government will write to the British authorities for the extradition of the Sharif brothers and steps will be taken by the concerned authorities in this regard in the coming week. The PM’s aide claimed that a “section of media had created the perception” that if the PML-N leader was not allowed to leave for treatment abroad then his life might be in danger.
It is worth mentioning here that the British government and Pakistan had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in May 2019 for initiating the process of extraditing former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The MoU was signed after Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar held talks with British Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Earlier, the Punjab government had asked the federal government to approach the court concerned against the extension in the former premier’s bail. “We have sent a letter to the federal government now they will take action,” Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat had said on Wednesday.
The provincial government’s stance was supported by Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, who termed the decision as a “good step”. The minister had also called for the formation of an independent commission to confirm the authenticity of the PML-N supremo’s previous reports.
On Tuesday, the provincial government had rejected Nawaz’s application for an extension in bail, stating that the former premier had failed to provide the required medical reports.
Basharat, while addressing a press conference alongside Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, had said that the government had repeatedly asked the PML-N leader to furnish his reports.
“He has not been admitted to any hospital since he went to London for treatment. We have repeatedly asked his physician Dr Adnan about the cardiac procedure. Dr Adnan failed to give any particular date,” Basharat said.
“The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had given eight weeks to Nawaz. In the last 16 weeks we have not received any new reports from London,” he had added.
The provincial law minister had said that a special board was constituted by the chief minister which kept requesting for fresh reports.
“After seven to eight observations, the board asked for new reports, however, the response we received from them was that the reports that had already been sent were conclusive and a decision should be taken on them,” he noted.
“Since no new reports were sent, the Punjab cabinet reached a decision on them and decided not to extend the bail,” Basharat said.
‘GOVT TO OVERCOME INFLATION’:
Speaking about other issues, Dr Firdous said that the incumbent government is committed to its mission of overcoming inflation and providing immediate relief to the masses.
She said that the prices of different edibles were decreasing because of the efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan. “In order to reduce the burden on the masses, the government will ensure that these prices are further decreased,” she added.
She also said that the country has been largely successful in addressing the challenges it faced at the economic front due to the prudent economic policies of the incumbent government.
Talking about the Afghan peace agreement signed in Doha a day earlier, she said that the deal vindicated PM Imran’s long-held narrative that dialogue was the only viable solution for peace and stability in the region. She added that Pakistan will continue its policy of supporting the Afghan people in their efforts to achieve lasting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.
On the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, she said that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees, and this fact alone shows the country’s hospitality and generosity.
Speaking about the crisis in India, she said that the fascist regime led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is suppressing the freedom struggle of the people of Kashmir but his government is destined to fail.
