The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, on Tuesday confirmed that the federal government had written a letter to the British authorities, requesting them to immediately deport former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said the government had written a letter to the British government, seeking deportation of Sharif who had gone to the UK for medical treatment. Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Awan said the letter to deport Sharif to Pakistan was sent a few days after the provincial government of Punjab decided to cancel his bail.
"The letter to bring a foreigner [Sharif] back home has been sent to the British authorities," she said while referring to former prime minister who had gone off to the UK for medical treatment on the orders of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in November last year.
"The way younger Sharif [Shehbaz Sharif] reacted to the government letter, shows that letter has been delivered to the British authorities. We wrote the letter [to the British authorities] as we wanted to fulfill the legal formalities [to bring him back]," she added.
A couple of days ago, Awan had said that the government had decided to write to the UK authorities to deport the former prime minister. She had accused the PML-N of not providing the Punjab government with updated medical reports of the PML-N "Quaid for Life".
About the cabinet meeting, Awan said a detailed briefing was given to the Cabinet on coronavirus situation in the country, adding it was decided the issue would be tackled with the help of provincial governments. "The Cabinet stressed the need for taking stringent monitoring and screening measures at all entry points especially airports, and borders, etc., to contain the coronavirus," she added.
Awan said the prime minister was also given a detailed briefing on overall economic situation of the country. According to her, the prime minister directed the government to make all possible efforts to ensure that food items were provided to the public at low rates.
The prime minister was told that the government's economic policies were providing relief to citizens. "The prime minister has directed the provincial governments to devise an effective mechanism for measuring demand and supply of edible items in the country to give maximum relief to the masses," she added.
Awan said the premier directed the provincial governments to take strict action against profiteers, adulterers and hoarders, and ensure provision of edible items of daily use to people at affordable rates.
She said the Federal Minister for Power, Omar Ayub, briefed the prime minister on over-billing and electricity tariffs. She said that the prime minister appreciated the performance of Ayub. But a source privy to the development told Business Recorder that the prime minister reprimanded the power minister for his inability to control exorbitant electricity bills, saying "small thieves are being caught, while the big ones are wandering scot-free, which is not acceptable".
The sources said that some federal ministers also expressed dismay over the performance of Ayub, saying "the way he [Ayub] claims of putting things on the right track, very little has been done on the ground." "Omar Ayub was left red-faced after some of the ministers including Murad Saeed severely criticized him in front of the prime minister," said a source present in the federal cabinet.
The minister informed the PM that an effective legislation was being prepared to stop power theft. The PM also directed the government to bring down electricity cost, so that people could avail maximum benefit. The special assistant said the prime minister took notice of corporal punishments of children at schools and directed the government to take action against this practice and tasked the human rights ministry to go for legislation on the issue.
PM Khan also directed the Cabinet that the bill on Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) be passed on a priority basis in cooperation with all political parties. Meanwhile, later in the evening, addressing a ceremony in connection with government's low cost housing programme, the prime minister said that provision of houses at less cost by a philanthropic organization is a big step.
He said that due to lack of foreclosure laws, the rate of constructing houses on mortgage is very low in the country. He expressed optimism that after a decision by the court, thee process will be accelerated Khan said the biggest responsibility of any government is to provide the basic necessities of life to people from lower income backgrounds, adding as the income of government increases, more funding will be available for housing, education and provision of justice to the poor people. The premier said that construction activity will spur other allied industries, resulting in job creation. He distributed cheques of interest free loans among the selected recipients.
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