LAHORE: Expressing reservations over inaptness of the government, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Tuesday that the country's GDP of 5.8 percent in the PML-N tenure has now turned into minus.
Addressing a news conference here at the PML-N Secretariat on Tuesday, the PML-N leader said: "The incumbent government has failed not only on economic front but also on diplomatic level." She added that Saudi Arabia besides some friendly countries was unhappy over childish and irresponsible statement made by the foreign minister against the OIC.
PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Rana Sanaullah, Marriyum Aurangzeb and others were also present on the occasion. Maryam criticized the government over Kashmir and said: "India could not dare adventure on Kashmir during 72 years." She added that Kashmir cannot be achieved through two-minute silence, changing the name of road or reflecting Kashmir in the map.
Answering a question, she said: "There is only one narrative in the party which is of Nawaz Sharif - to give respect to vote as provided in the constitution." She added the PML-N is united under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. "Had the vote been given respect, the country could have been saved from the present situation."
She narrated the treatment meted out to her during her arrest in the NAB custody, adding that earlier they had registered two cases against her but found nothing.
When asked about the All-Parties Conference, she said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the PML-N leadership to follow and cooperate with other opposition parties to present a united front. "If Maulana Sahab has any reservations, the PML-N will remove them. No need to worry about this," she said.
Criticizing Prime Minister Imran Khan, she said: "The imposed government has misplaced priorities with Nawaz Sharif on the top of it." She said there is price-hike and massive unemployment while the imposed government is busy in targeting its opponents. She said they would lead the people to get rid of the government, adding the imposed PM had told his ministers that they had six months only.
"It is my personal opinion that their internal surveys show that the PML-N's and Nawaz Sharif's popularity has risen in the country. They have become worried because of this and they are panicking," she added.
When asked about the health of Nawaz Sharif, she said heart surgery of former PM was delayed due to corona. She said silence has its own meaning, however Nawaz has played his role and sacrificed for the country, party and partymen. "Insha Allah Nawaz will return to the country after his recovery."
Maryam Nawaz maintained that today's incident outside the NAB office is an act of "state-sponsored terrorism" and witnessed by her personally. "Not for me or the PML-N, it is a moment to ponder over the fake and selected government," she said. "Today the unarmed party workers present near the NAB office were shelled with tear gas and baton-charged. For the first time, I saw stoning and tear-gas shelling but the workers remained steadfast." She said she narrowly escaped a head injury. "The state terrorism and repression was demonstrated in front of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office. Unarmed workers were tortured and stones were hurled at my vehicle."
She said she received NAB's summons day before yesterday and alleged that the anti-corruption watchdog had leaked the information to media about the notice. She said there was no allegation in the notice and read out the summons in front of media persons.
Moreover, sources claimed that Nawaz Sharif also telephoned his daughter Maryam Nawaz and discussed the situation arising out due to her NAB appearance. According to the sources, Maryam informed her father about the violence against the party workers and narrated the entire incident during their telephonic conversation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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