Bilawal on 'Save father' mission: Fawad

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Sunday that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was out on the 'Save Father' mission.

Addressing a media conference here at Press Information Department (PID), he said that after this mission, Bilawal would also have to start 'Abbu Nikalo' (Release father) movement. It was very unfortunate that when Asif Ali Zardari was being investigated for Rs 5000 billion alleged corruption, his son was threatening a 'train march', the minister remarked.

To a question, Chaudhry Fawad said that it was ironic that Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Khursheed Shah were now worried about democracy and Pakistan, asserting that today, the Maulana seemed more worried about being away from Islamabad, and not Islam. Since 1988, he said, the Maulana for the first time, had been out of the parliament.

Fawad opined that  in the absence of Fazalur Rehman, the parliament appeared even more peaceful and working effectively, he added.

To another question, he said that Bilawal Bhutto should also have seen Khursheed Shah's pictures with terrorists; and added that no one could be removed from his parliamentray office on the basis of mere pictures. He said that the PPP chairman would have to change his narrative in this regard.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that National Action Plan had been initiated in 2014, and all political parties played their role in this regard, citing that the then PPP government had launched a successful operation against terrorists in Swat, while the PML-N government achieved success in North and South Waziristan under NAP, and the incumbent PTI government was removing lacunae in the National Action Plan. He said that NAP was not a political matter, but an issue of the writ of the state, and it was equally beneficial for all political parties.

Responding to reporters' queries, the minister said that the opposition parties were free to lodge their protests; however, no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands by throwing stones at policemen and the media persons and ransacking the public and private properties under the garb of protest demonstrations.

The PTI government did not impose Anti-Terrorism Act  on the detained workers of opposition parties, he said and recalled that the past governments had imposed this act on the PTI workers and even its chairman during the party's sit-in in Islamabad.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the PTI government was standing by Hindu community on the issue of abduction of its two girls from Sindh.

As soon the issue highlighted in the social media, he added Prime Minister Imran Khan took immediate notice and directed the governments of Sindh and Punjab to

coordinate on the matter, while Ministry of Human Rights also worked on the issue.

He said that both the Hindu girls were abducted from Sindh and reportedly shifted to Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab) and later brought to Gujranwala.

According to Sindh IG Police, he said, some of the accused involved in the incident had been arrested, while efforts were being made for recovery of the girls.

Chaudhry Fawad said that white colour in the national flag represents the minority community, and sanctity of the flag could only be maintained when white was equally respected along with green colour.

The PTI government under the leadership of PM Imran Khan was transforming Pakistan into Quaid-e-Azam's Pakistan where minority communities were secure and all the citizens had equal rights.

Fawad Hussain mentioned that Indian Foreign Minister expressed her concerns on this incident, asserting, "I convinced her that Pakistan government has been making all out efforts in this regard." It was a good omen that India showed its concerns

about minorities in Pakistan but it should also ensure respect and equal rights to minority people living in India as well.

He cited that minority communities, including Muslims, in India were massacred in Indian Gujarat and in Held Jammu and Kashmir, and they were also subjected to tyranny and aggression on various pretexts, including slaughtering of cow and use of its meat.

The Federal Information Minister said that crimes were committed in the world but what matters is the respective governments' attitude towards them.

He cited that Newzealand government stood by the weaker group after massacre of Muslims in two mosques at Christchurch, and the government of Pakistan also stood by the weaker group on the issue of Hindu girls' abduction.

To a question,  Fawad said the PTI government had no political challenge from both  Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz, as PM Imran Khan was not being seen as Pakistan's leader only but the leader of Muslim Ummah by the world because he

was consulted on the issues of various Muslim countries such Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, UAE and Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had not only highlighted importance of Pakistan but proved its worth to the world, he said and cited that within a few months, three Muslim leaders, including Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed of

UAE and Muhammad bin Salman of Saudi Araiba visited Pakistan, while Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey would soon come here.

In the past, he said, there was no such example of visits of world leaders to Pakistan in a short span of time. Instead of enjoying and relying on their fathers'  ill-gotten wealth, he advised both Bilawal and Maryam to get employed somewhere for six months so that they could realize the life of a common man.

The PTI government's reforms in the country were now taking roots due to which Pakistan's economy was not only improving but the menace of corruption was also discouraged, he said.

He mentioned that due to effective measures by the incumbent government, fiscal deficit and trade deficit were reduced by 17 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, while more than Rs 40 billion had also been saved through a successful campaign against electricity theft.

To a query, he said the PTI government was in contact with Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif and parliamentary leaders of other parties regarding appointment of members of the Election Commission of Pakistan.