–PTI govt to launch first phase of Insaf Sehat Card on Monday
–Govt to help media organisations to come out of prevailing financial crisis, says info minister
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday predicted that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari would spend rest of their lives in jail, adding that there is suspense regarding whether the two political leaders would go to London for treatment.
Talking to media persons, he rejected reports claiming suspension of an Elite Force official for saluting Nawaz when the latter was being shifted to the hospital from prison. “We are not narrow-minded,” he remarked.
To another query, the minister said there was suspense about Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari that whether they would spend the last days of their lives in jails or in London. The people, who remained in power for 30 years, should be ashamed while demanding their medical treatment abroad, he added.
As far as Nawaz Sharif’s health was concerned, he said, an independent team of doctors would decide his treatment. A common man, he said, could think that when an influential or rich man was sent to jail, who all of a sudden fell ill and got hospitalised.
He hoped that courts, National Accountability Bureau and other prosecution institutions would take into account the fact that the rich people are given the same treatment in jails as was being given to the poor prisoners.
INSAF SEHAT CARD:
He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was going to launch the first phase of Insaf Sehat Card on Monday for the poor segments of the society, who did not have proper access to healthcare facilities.
They would now be able to get free of cost medical treatment costing Rs 700,000 to Rs 900,000. The initiative would bring about a revolution in the healthcare facilities for the poor, he maintained.
Fawad said the prime minister also chaired a meeting on the governance matters in Punjab and soon changes would come forth in that regard as it was part of the PTI’s manifesto to improve the governance system.
Regarding the Sahiwal incident, he said the prime minister had expressed solidarity with the victim family and resolved to ensure dispensation of justice to them at all costs. The prime minister had also directed Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to take all possible measures for the provision of justice to the victim family, he added.
The minister said another detailed meeting on police reforms and governance would be held on Monday at the Prime Minister Office in Islamabad and its details would be shared with the media.
Regarding the meeting of media strategic committee, he said it had been decided to revive the social media set up of the PTI. The meeting also discussed as to how the government could play its role in helping the working journalists and media workers to come out of the prevailing financial crisis. “The prime minister directed me to hold meetings with the owners of media houses to find ways and means to end the crisis,” he added.
To a question, the minister ruled out any serious differences between the PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
The PTI and its allies, including the PML-Q, were different parties and might have some differences, which could be important but not of serious nature, he said. “They [PML-Q] are our partners and we will, Insha Allah, set aside these differences and move forward in the best interest of the country.”