-Vawda says Maryam should’ve been arrested after clash outside NAB office
-Asad says NA speaker should suspend membership of abusive lawmakers
-PM directs to include Peshawar-Torkham section in Main Line-1 project
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed his administration to review all the legal aspects of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s case, and to make efforts for immediate repatriation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, a local news outlet reported on Tuesday.
The federal cabinet, which met in Islamabad, discussed the political atmosphere.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, while expressing concern over authorities’ failure to arrest PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz after her party workers clashed with the security personnel outside the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) office in Lahore, said that the government will not allow her to leave the country, no matter what happens.
The premier vowed to stand strong against the opposition’s pressure, and said that it is the government’s responsibility to bring back everyone who is wanted by the courts.
Reportedly, some ministers also raised the issue of disturbance during the National Assembly (NA) session on Monday, with one cabinet member highlighting the offensive language used by former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the floor of the House.
Vawda said that the public did not vote for the lawmakers to hear them abuse in the House. He added that the government would respond bluntly if the opposition uses abusive language in the future.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the NA speaker should suspend the membership of the members who used abusive language in the lower house of the parliament.
The meeting also held consultations on the legal procedure for the repatriation of the former premier. The members of the federal cabinet said that those who fled the country by showing a certificate of illness no longer have any illness.
The cabinet thus agreed to take all possible steps for Nawaz’s repatriation.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri said that the government should include Peshawar to Torkham section in the ML-1 project.
The premier then ordered the inclusion of the said section and summoned a detailed report on the matter. Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed also expressed support for the inclusion of this section in the ML-1 project.
Moreover, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday directed to include Peshawar-Torkham section in Main Line-1 project.
The prime minister issued this direction while presiding over a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad today.
The federal cabinet also approved inclusion of 61 food and non-food items for mandatory certification list. Current political situation, progress on ML-1 project, import of sugar and wheat and other issues were discussed in the meeting.
Matters pertaining to appointment of renowned economists in fiscal policy boards, FC’s services in Balochistan under Anti-Terrorism Act were also discussed in the meeting, said sources.
Earlier on August 17, Prime Minister Imran Khan had reviewed progress made towards execution of the strategically important Pakistan Railways’ Mainline-1 project.
PM Imran Khan had been briefed about the progress made on the ML-1, timeline set for its completion and benefits the project will yield. Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Chairman CPEC Authority had retired General Asim Saleem Bajwa attended the meeting.
