Opposition parties have unanimously urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to take Parliament into confidence on the terms and conditions under which $1.5 billion was credited to Pakistan Development Fund by a friendly Muslim country.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Business Recorder Saturday that the PML-N government should take Parliament into confidence on the terms and conditions of the $1.5 billion received from a friendly Muslim country. He said the terms and conditions of this loan or assistance should be discussed in Parliament. "We will want to know whether or not $1.5 billion is a loan or a bailout package or a grant. We have to know its terms and conditions," the PTI leader said.
The major opposition party, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), moved an adjournment motion in the Senate Secretariat on Friday to discuss whether the $1.5 billion bailout by an un-named Muslim country was related to the change in the country's policy of neutrality over Syria. The adjournment motion was submitted by PPPP Senator Farhatullah Babar who in a statement maintained that the claim of national debt coming down by 800 billion rupees as a result of rupee rising in value against dollar following the $1.5 billion bailout was most welcome but, "we need to be reassured there is no quid pro quo and trade off with a critical area of our foreign policy".
PPP Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah also expressed concerns and asked the government to tell the nation whether it is a loan or a grant and its terms and conditions. Abdul Rashid Godil of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) told Business Recorder that the issue of $1.5 billion package should be discussed in Parliament. The Parliament would want to know about the terms and conditions of the package, he said.
Central Information Secretary of Awami National Party (ANP) Zahid Khan said that his party has serious concerns over the package and its repercussions on the country in future. ANP leader said the government should take the Parliament into confidence as it is the right of Parliament and nation to know the terms and conditions of the package.
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