APNS delegation calls on Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Prime Minister has announced a commission for investigation into Panama Leaks and clearly said that if his name is included, he will apologize and go home. After announcement of Prime Minister, there is no room for such type of discussion on Panama Leaks.

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society headed by its President Sarmad Ali, here today. During the meeting, problems faced by newspaper industry and country situation were discussed in detail.

He said that waving off loans on political grounds is a great crime. He said that State Bank has lists of those who waved off their loans. He said that commission will not have to make investigations for years but it can give its decision in minutes. He said that the nation also wants to hold accountable those politicians who got their loans waved off.

He said that the attitude of so-called champions of democracy and transparency is very deplorable. He said that those criticizing on TORs for their personal interests are displaying extreme hypocrisy. The hue and cry of those criticizing against TORs is unjustified.

He further said that investigation of those who got their loans waved off from banks have also been included in the TORs.

Shahbaz Sharif said that investigation should also be carried out regarding waving off loans about the politicians who are on posts of current era or former tenure. He said that loans of crores of rupees were waved off in 2002 and 2004 and all these elements should be held accountable. He said that everyone who got loans waved off will be held accountable. He said that come to change this moment into an opportunity of knowing th truth. He said nation wants to know who looted it and what accountability was done against such elements.

The Chief Minister congratulated President APNS Sarmad Ali, Secretary General Umer Mujeeb Shami and other newly elected office-bearers and expressed the hope that the present leadership of APNS will further forward this mission for which journalists’ community has made a great struggle.

Shahbaz Sharif directed to constitute a committee for resolving the problems of newspaper industry and said that Spokesman Punjab Government Zaeem Hussain Qadri will be head of the committee while Muhammad Maalik, Secretary Information and DGPR will also be included in the committee. He further said that investigation of those who got their loans waved off from banks have also been included in the TORs.

The Chief Minister said that during 2006-07, the government of that time had committed a great dacoity in the history of the country regarding mineral reserves of Chiniot. He said that a dacoity was committed through a fake company but now case has been registered against big personalities. He said that the sit-in politics of last year has ruined the economy of Pakistan. Now China is supporting Pakistan and these elements once again are out to stop the process of progress and prosperity. He said that a conspiracy is being hatched to delay completion of development projects especially the power projects and such elements are making enmity to Pakistan.

The Chief Minister said that a state-of-the-art Safe City Project will be set up in Lahore. He said that Safe City Project of Lahore is four times big as compared to Safe City Project Islamabad while its cost four billion rupees is less than Islamabad Safe City Project. He said that Punjab government has reduced its cost by four billion rupees by negotiating with a lowest bidder Chinese company.

Shahbaz Sharif said that first phase of Safe City Project will be completed before Muharram. Delegation of APNS appreciated the steps of Information Department and DGPR on transparent policy of advertisements and resolving the problems of newspaper industry.

Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah, Spokesman Punjab government Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Chairman Chief Minister’s Taskforce on Information Muhammad Malak, Secretary Information and DGPR were also present on the occasion.