ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP):The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday expressed the resolve to continue the crackdown against terrorists under National Action Plan (NAP) to ventually eliminate the menace from the country.
Briefing the media about the decisions of the Federal Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government was moving fast to implement the National Action Plan, and it was not far when the scourge will be eradicated from the country.
The minister said external factors were involved in the terrorist incidents in the country, and the government was close to completely destroy that network.
Fawad Hussain said that full implementation of NAP was the yardstick to overcome incidents of terrorism and civil and military leadership had unanimous view on the NAP implementation.
e said that the Cabinet offered Fateha for the souls of the martyred in Quetta blast.
He said that after thorough debate on Assets Declaration Scheme, it was noted that there was a need of further discussion and the prime minister had summoned a special meeting on Wednesday. The cabinet members, who intend to give their input, would attend the meeting.
Chaudhry Fawad said that the Federal Cabinet expressed serious concerns over the ongoing money laundering cases and expressed the resolve that the cases regarding money laundering would have logical conclusion.
He said that owing to the flawed policies of past rulers, the country was facing inflation and economic crisis. He said that in the past, Sharif family and Zardari were allegedly involved in large scale corruption, loot and plunder.
e said that sons of Nawaz Sharif, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Ishaq Dar were not coming to Pakistan to face cases in the courts.
He said that 95 per cent assets declared by Sharif family were based on telegraphic transfer (TT). He said that Cabinet members of the past governments were also involved in mega scandals and some members of the Muslim League-N cabinet got Iqamas from foreign countries to launder money.
He said as per investigation, $ 26 million were received by Shahbaz Sharif family through TT whereas Nawaz Family got millions of dollars in Al-Azizia Steel Mills .
He said out of declared assets of Hamza Shebaz, 99 per cent were TT-based whereas his mother Nusrat Shehbaz had received 85 per cent money from abroad through telegraphic transfer.
He said that in just only one night, Rs 1.2 billion were transferred from Hill Metal to Nawaz Sharif account and similarly Rs 820 million were transferred in Mariam Nawaz account from which she used to buy properties and assets.
He made it clear that this investigation was not done during the PTI government tenure.
About Pakistan Steel Mills, he said it was not suffering losses before the PPP government. He said that six major investors had offered to invest in Steel Mills under public-private-partnership mode.
He said that production capacity of steel mills will be increased further and it would be ensured that the employees’ interests were protected.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would launch Apna Ghar housing scheme on Wednesday and in the first phase 1,35,000 apartments would be built.
He said that proposals were under consideration to enhance the capacity of Auditor General Office.
He said that the issue of renewal of telecommunications licenses was also discussed in the Cabinet meeting.
Fawad said that the Cabinet gave three-month extension to Chairman, CDA Amir Ali Ahmed. The cabinet also gave approval to the proposal of appointment of Dr Amir as chairman of the Evacuee Trust.
He said that the Cabinet gave green signal for appointment of the new chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).
Later answering question of media persons, the Information Minister said that there was no plan to reshuffle the Cabinet and when there would be any change in portfolios, the PM Office would make a formal announcement in that regard.
He said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari may not know but during the PPP rule the incidents of terrorism were quite common which now had been controlled to a great extent.
He said that Quetta incident was tragic, but there should be no politics on the issue.
To a question, he said that amendment in Pakistan Penal Code was being done for bring back the absconders like Altaf Hussian, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz and Ishaq Dar back to country to face the law.
Source: VNS Islamabad
