LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Saturday the unwarranted demand of an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] was an “apple of discord” between the government and the two main opposition parties.
Speaking at a ceremony held to commemorate the first death anniversary of renowned journalist Munno Bhai, he said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had no personal differences with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but the demand for an NRO by very sane lawmakers from both the parties for their “two leaders” had stalled their relationship.
“How could the PTI government breach the trust of the masses by not fulfilling its commitment of curbing corruption in the country,” he said. The PPP and the PML-N were popular political parties and more than institutions for political workers, but such concessions to conceal corruption cannot be allowed, he added.
The minister said there was no crisis-like situation in the country at present and all was in order. “The country would traverse on the road to progress under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said.
The current year, he added, was the year of exports and the government would observe it as the year of economic resurgence. “The year ahead would be marked by progress and prosperity as the largest oil refinery in the country’s history is being set up,” he added.
On the issue of resignation of a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) minister from Punjab, the minister said the PML-Q was a distinct political party and its members had every right to do politics in their constituencies.
“Some of the grievances of PML-Q, which carried weight, would be resolved through due consultation,” he added. He said PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had also held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.
To a question, the information minister said the military courts were constituted under the National Action Plan.
“The military courts did not exist in ideal conditions, but we must keep in view the ground political realities and the presence of terrorism in the country.”