–Says PM Imran revised the budget 12 times to ensure compatibility with govt’s objectives
–SAPM hopes Shehbaz will face courts, not plan another trip
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said that uplifting the downtrodden and vulnerable members of the society is the top priority of government’s “people-friendly” budget for 2019-2020.
Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, the special assistant warned against forming presumptions against the budget, saying that it was analysed and assessed by Prime Minister Imran Khan 12 times as the premier wishes to facilitate the neglected and deserving class of the society.
“This is the government’s first properly planned budget. It was drafted after having engaged the economic and financial team and keeping in view and focusing on the people’s needs,” she said.
She said that the budget will cut back all unnecessary expenditures of the government institutions, ministries and divisions in line with the austerity drive and will address the objectives of the next five years in line with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) manifesto.
“The trend was first set by the Pakistan Army. They froze their annual budgetary increase. They decided that the officers placed on high ranks will not avail increased perks, privileges and salaries and that the budgetary benefits will be transferred to their lower-ranking officers of up to Grade 16,” she said, adding that the “ignorant opposition is raising a hue and cry that we may have risked the country’s national security with this initiative”.
“In no way is the government of Pakistan and the prime minister oblivious to the nation’s defence requirements…the prime minister, as well as the chief of Army staff, have decided in consultation with one another that the foregone increase in defence budget shall be spent on the development of the merged tribal areas,” she added.
She said that the common man living in the tribal areas, who “stands together with the Army and kisses our flag” will be made a shareholder in all developmental efforts in the region.
Firdous also revealed that the funds that would have been allotted for the enhancement of the defence institutions shall now be spent on the underdeveloped areas of Balochistan so they may have good schools, better healthcare facilities and quality infrastructure.
Awan also addressed the matter of the legal notice sent to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah for allegedly issuing “false, malicious and defamatory statements” against her.
The notice said that Rana Sanaullah, in his media talks, had levelled baseless and fabricated allegations, which hurt the special assistant, besides damaging her reputation. The notice warned Rana Sanaullah to withdraw the allegations, tender an apology and pay damages within a period of 14 days, failing which Dr Awan has the right to start legal proceedings against Rana Sanaullah under the Defamation Act 2002.
“I have a brother, he is from another mother: Rana Sanaullah. It seems he is unaware of the stature and respect accorded to the relation that is a ‘baji’,” said Awan, in reference to Sanaullah’s response to the notice which had been peppered with the use of the term meaning ‘elder sister’.
She said she had no choice but to also include a media organisation as a respondent because “the notice requires that details be provided of what was said and where”.
“We are politicians. We may have differences when it comes to our viewpoints and it is a democratic right we enjoy, but to attack one’s person and when you level such vulgar allegations then to exercise one’s right to seek relief and pursue justice under the law is also everyone’s right which I have [made use of and] shared with you in documented form,” she added.
Earlier, Firdous said that she hopes Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will face the courts with consistency and won’t plan another prolonged trip to London.
The special assistant said this on Twitter on Sunday. She also welcomed Shehbaz on returning to Pakistan.
In her tweet, she took a jibe on the opposition leader and said that he in the guise of medical treatment, aimlessly meandered on the streets of London and elongated a two-week relief into a two-month long vacation.
“Shehbaz Sharif wandered the London streets meanwhile in order to get an NRO (National Reconciliation Order). His fast walking pace shows that he has no health issues”, she wrote.
“The legal requirement would have been fulfilled had Shehbaz Sharif brought his son, son-in-law and former finance minister Ishaq Dar with him”, her tweet further read.