–Info minister says federal cabinet has placed PPP co-chairman’s name on ECL in wake of JIT report pertaining to mega money laundering scam
–Fawad blames recent Karachi killings on ‘some gangs’ operating from South Africa, asks UK to act against MQM founder Altaf Hussain
–Cabinet validates decision to hold provincial assembly polls in tribal districts in June
–Cabinet also approves summary to float bonds in Chinese market
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to put the names of at least 172 people, including former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, on the Exit Control List (ECL) over their alleged involvement in the mega money laundering case.
Addressing a press conference following a federal cabinet meeting, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said the decision to place the PPP co-chairman and others on the no-fly list was taken in the light of the joint investigation team’s (JIT) report submitted to the Supreme Court in the money laundering probe.
He took a jibe at the PPP co-chairman for refusing to take the report “seriously”, saying hopefully now he would take it seriously as this isn’t the ‘old Pakistan’ where two parties could “make a deal”.
“The inquiry is very serious and each and every penny belonging to the people of Pakistan would be accounted for,” he warned.
Chaudhry, when asked that Zardari’s counsel Lateef Khosa said that the PPP leader will be arrested before December 31, the minister replied: “Inshallah. What can I say about it.”
‘KARACHI PEACE TOP PRIORITY’:
The information minister also spoke of the rise in “targeted killings” in Karachi, following the murder of former lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi.
Putting it up to “some gangs who have become active again”, he lamented that the security situation has suddenly worsened.
He also said that Karachi’s peace is important for the economy of the country and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will not let it be sabotaged.
The cabinet has also decided to take up the issue of Altaf Hussain’s hate speech with the British government, he noted, adding, “We have seen his inciteful speeches and orders from England to disrupt civil society by bloodshed.”
The British authorities seem to not have taken any notice of it yet, though it was viral on social media, he said.
Fawad revealed that the government has also decided to reach out to the South African government to take notice of some active gangs that can be traced to the country.
“It is very important that such disruptive groups are nipped at their source. The Foreign Office has been directed to take up this matter with the South African government as well,” the minister stated.
The minister said that the cabinet has validated the government decision to hold provincial assembly elections in tribal districts in June 2019 to bring the tribal people in the mainstream and providing them all their constitutional rights promised by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He further said that the cabinet has given the go-ahead for the tabling of an amendment bill that would seek an extra seat for women from Islamabad in both the National Assembly and Senate.
‘DARUL HIKMA’:
Further, he revealed that Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood has been lauded by the prime minister for his role in a plan to covert PM House into a university.
He said that the official residence will be named Darul Hikma in the first phase, and will be used for research. In the long run, it will function as a university, he declared.
Talking of the registration of imported mobile devices, he announced an extension till January 15 in the matter, after which users will need to pay 10 per cent of the phone’s customs duty.
Speaking of media, he told that the regulatory duty on newsprint will be cut down to a mere one per cent and hoped that this would benefit the journalist community.
The cabinet has also approved a summary to float bonds in the Chinese market, he said, adding that it would be a landmark development for Pakistan.
The information minister also confirmed appointment of Farrukh Sabzwari as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).