March 04, 2007	Sunday	Safar 14, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 3: Criticising the government’s privatisation policy, information secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday alleged that the regime was intentionally taking Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) towards bankruptcy so as to sell it to “favourites” on a throwaway price.

Speaking at a news conference at the party’s Central Secretariat, the PML-N information secretary said that the opposition would never allow the rulers to sell strategic national assets to “the friends of Shaukat Aziz” and the “friends of Pervez Musharraf.”

Mr Iqbal said last year a government minister had stated that PIA would be privatised by June 2007. He alleged that the PIA was being made to suffer losses so that the rulers could sell it to their favourites showing it a burden on national economy.

He said the European Union (EU) had issued a warning to PIA asking the airline to improve the condition of aircraft, but no one paid heed to it resulting into the ban on PIA flights to some European countries. “Either it is a criminal negligence or intentional manipulation,” he added.

Mr Iqbal alleged that the government had also sold out Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO) for just Rs280 million through backdoor despite the fact that it had more than 250 acres of prime land.

He said out of nine members of the PECO Board of Directors, there were three from government. He said the government was not able to tell the nation that who owned PECO.

Mr Iqbal demanded of the government to constitute a committee, which has members from opposition as well to monitor the privatisation process.

The PML-N leader also lashed out at the rulers for the poor law and order situation in the country.

He said all the security agencies had been deputed to provide security to only President Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while the people of Pakistan had been left to the mercy of terrorists. He said today the country’s airports, hospitals, courts and even roads were not safe.