Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senior Vice President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, MNA has criticised the PPP government for showing indifference to the Palestine issue and demanded that it should play a role in convening a foreign minister's conference of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to raise the issue.
Addressing a press conference at his residence on Friday, Javed Hashmi expressed reservations about the government's 'indifference' towards recent Israeli forces' attacks on Gaza, which had resulted in deaths of hundreds of innocent people. He said it had been a tradition of the Pakistan government to condemn such acts of barbarity but the present government did not take any such step. He said there had been a massive hue and cry throughout the world if such a terrorist activity would have taken place in any other country but the whole world was witnessing the Palestinians' plight silently and was reluctant to take action against Israel.
Hashmi said the PML-N condemned Israel's attacking Palestine on Gaza and killing hundreds of innocent people. He criticised the role of the UN Security Council, which was quick in taking action over Mumbai blasts but had closed its eyes towards the plight of Palestinians. He said the indifference of the world towards resolving Palestine issue was encouraging Islamic militancy and creating a sense of agitation among them.
The PML-N leader confirmed that his party was in contact with other political parties within as well as outside the parliament because it was bringing bill on the 17th Amendment. He also hinted that the party would table the bill within two months.
He alleged that PPP government had saved Rs 20 billion during the past three months after deducting taxes and other expenditures but it did not trickle down its dividends to the general public. He said the government was cheating and looting public on one hand and doing massive mismanagement on the other. Hashmi lamented that the government had also increased gas prices despite the fact that its prices were at its lowest in the international market.
The PML-N leader also charged the PPP government by accommodating Pervez Musharraf' cronies, stating that Sharifuddin Peerzada, who was known for breaking the constitution, was still enjoying the status of a federal minister in the PPP government.