ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet has decided that all steps would be taken to bring back former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from Britain, with the prime minister and cabinet members reiterating their resolve of not being black-mailed on the issue.
A meeting of the federal cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan was given a briefing about the current situation of the Nawaz Sharif case along with background and was informed that the former premier had misused the relief provided to him on "humanitarian" grounds after he submitted an application for bail on the pretext of illness to go abroad for medical treatment. The opposition leader, Shehbaz Sharif provided a guarantee in this regard.
Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that the government would not give any NRO as the country's debt increased manifolds owing to NROs given in the past.
The cabinet was further informed that in the Al-Azizia reference case Nawaz Sharif was granted an eight-week bail on October 29, 2019 and on November 16, 2019 his name was removed from the ECL on the Lahore High Court's (LHC's) verdict for four weeks to allow him to travel aboard for medical treatment.
In this regard, both Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif, provided personal guarantee. Not only did they promise to return but also assured that medical reports would be submitted regularly and provision of full cooperation in case of any examination of medical reports.
The meeting was further informed Nawaz Sharif's lawyers submitted an application before the court on December 23, 2019 for extension in bail and a medical board in this regard was constituted.
He was provided opportunities to appear in the court on February 19, 20 and 21, 2020 but he did not appear, nor was any new medical report submitted.
The meeting was further informed that on February 27, Nawaz Sharif's application for extension in bail was dismissed.
The meeting was informed that former prime minister was informed before departure about the verdict and conditions of the LHC.
On March 02, 2020 the British government was informed about the Punjab government's decision, however, due to the Coivd-19, Britain like other countries, extended the visit visas of visitors and former premier has also been on a visit visa and was staying in the UK due to extension in visa following the Covid-19 outbreak.
The meeting was informed that a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court by Nawaz Sharif's lawyers whose written verdict is yet to come.
The cabinet meeting also expressed concern over the difficulties faced by the people of Karachi due to recent rains and emphasized the need to resolve problems.
The meeting was briefed about the quota system especially the situation emerging from the merged district of tribal areas, and the prime minister stated that the government's priority is to bring the under-developed areas at par with the other parts of the country.
The prime minister said that quota system is continuing like before with the objective to provide opportunities to less-developed areas and the government will ensure just distribution of quota system.
The Minister for Planning, Asad Umar, informed the cabinet meeting regarding progress in constitution of the Punjab and KP provincial financial award systems.
The federal cabinet gave approval to appoint Dr Waqar Masood, former finance secretary, as member of monetary and fiscal policies' coordination board.
The meeting also gave approval for two platoons of frontier corps Balochistan on the request of the Balochistan government for 'Baldia Town' Infrastructure Development Project/Package.
The federal cabinet also endorsed decisions of CCLC August 12, 19, 20 and ECC decision of August 12, 2020 and in this regard a decision about Hotel Roosevelt, and the meeting was informed the hotel payables have increased to $125 million and the current measures are being taken to revive its assets and to stop losses.
The federal cabinet also endorsed Cabinet Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor decisions of August 13.
The meeting was given update on wheat and sugar issues and was informed that a ship with 60,000 metric tones of wheat would be arriving at Karachi today, and the minister for industries informed the meeting that sugar price was coming down by Rs4-5 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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