–PM’s special assistant terms PML-N’s presser an attempt to ‘fool’ nation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday said the government would relief to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif within the legal framework, as she dismissed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s press conference an “attempt at fooling nation”.
Addressing a presser in response to the PML-N chief, she said the government’s intentions regarding the removal of the ex-PM from the no-fly list should not be doubted.
Responding to a question regarding Shehbaz Sharif‘s statement, she expressed that the attitude of the PML-N leader was condemnable.
“Nawaz Sharif did not go to jail for winning a gold medal or a trophy,” she asserted, adding that Nawaz Sharif was found guilty by the courts, and not the government.
The special assistant expressed that the government gave relief to Nawaz Sharif on humanitarian grounds.
In a comment on the PML-N’s reluctance to submit indemnity bonds, she claimed Nawaz’s own family is not ready to mortgage the Jati Umra residence, which should be “enough to open people’s eyes”.
“Hospital is the best place to treat a patient, but the Sharif family is keeping Nawaz in Jati Umra,” she added.
Earlier, while addressing a press conference after consultation meeting of senior party leaders in Lahore, Shehbaz Sharif said that the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wants to take ransom from Sharif family in the name of indemnity bond.
Earlier in the day, Firdous said that the government had thrown the ball in the PML-N’s court by offering permission for foreign travel in return for an indemnity bond worth Rs7 billion.
She was referring to the announcement made by Law Minister Farogh Naseem who, yesterday, said that Nawaz will be given “one-time” permission to travel abroad for his medical treatment for a period of four weeks. He had said this permission would be subject to the Sharif family submitting an indemnity bond “to the tune of Rs7-7.5 billion”.
“The government is repeatedly telling them [PML-N] to move forward. The condition of Nawaz Sharif’s health does not allow for it to be politicised,” Awan said, adding: “Complete the legal formalities, submit the indemnity and immediately take him wherever you want for treatment.”
“On the basis of human compassion, Prime Minister Imran Khan gave [Nawaz] the waiver and permitted him to go [abroad] for treatment one time,” she said, adding that this was “out of the box” as the laws and sections of the Exit Control List don’t permit it.
The premier’s special assistant said that the spokespersons for PML-N were politicising the matter, calling it an “unfortunate approach”.
“From this forum, I appeal to them again: Our political match is not a T20 match, nor a One-Day, this is a long series.
“The long series has to continue in the field of politics, you will get opportunities, so will we,” she said, urging them not to “hit sixes and fours” regarding Nawaz’s health.
She said that the government’s leadership had told them not to make any statements regarding Nawaz’s health but the PML-N’s “army of spokespersons” was busy trying to mislead people.
Awan urged Shehbaz to play the role of a “responsible leader” and make a decision. “This political fighting […] and throwing bouncers on one another will continue, Nawaz’s health shouldn’t be compromised in this.
“Once again, the government has thrown the ball in PML-N’s court.”
