News
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sharif brothers patronising corrupt politics: Firdaus
* Information minister says Sharif’s all schemes are squandered
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan on Sunday said that Sharif brothers are personally indulged in corruption in Punjab for the last 30 years.
In a statement issued here, she castigated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his “anti-democracy” and “anti-Pakistan” remarks while addressing expatriates in London. “Shahbaz was pursuing the agenda of enemies of the country. He must keep national interests supreme while speaking abroad as he holds an official post,” she observed. She said that such statements could be given by only those people who only love to keep their interests supreme.
The minister demanded that the Sharifs should make their property public which they own in UK, Saudi Arabia and other countries. The Sharifs frequently visited abroad on official expense to look after their personal property affairs, they should come up publicly and must declare whatever wealth they own abroad, she said.
“The Sharifs must stop issuing such unnecessary statements which discredit the country as well as democracy. For such people whatever trouble to Pakistan is of no consequence as they run on the first sign of trouble,” she said, while adding the example of Sharifs leaving the country during the era of Gen (r) Musharraf in 1999 while leaving the people on the mercy of Musharraf junta. Recalling the past “frauds” of the Sharifs, she said same old tactics are being used to loot the provincial exchequer. She cited the examples of the revival of Yellow Cabs, Danish School, Ashiana Housing Scheme, Sasti Roti Scheme, saying billions of rupees are being squandered in these projects.
Both the brothers have not yet mend their ways as they are vociferously patronising MNA from capital Anjum Aqeel, who devoured billion of rupees of Police Foundation, Firdaus said.
The Sharif brothers have also constructed roads in their Raiwind Estate with public money, which is miserable as a vast chunk of the province lacks even basic facilities, she said, adding they should not use public money for personal benefits and the funds of Punjab must be diverted for the welfare and improving the lot of the common man.
The information minister appreciated the leadership of the president and prime minister on unanimous passage of seventh National Finance Commission Award (NFCA), empowering provinces, adding that these steps would strengthen the democracy as well as democratic institutions in the country.
She said, the PPP leadership has ended the country’s isolation and renamed a province. “It is for the first time in the country’s history that the federation has devolved its powers to the provinces to make them autonomous,” concluded the minister. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk