Timing of PM’s UK visit has tongues wagging

Khawar Ghumman Published April 13, 2016

ISLAMABAD: After an extended weekend in Lahore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will head to London on Wednesday for a three-day visit to undergo a pending medical check-up, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.

When asked, a senior PM Office official said that only close family members would be joining him on the trip but did not give any details. PM Sharif’s two sons — Hassan and Hussain — are already abroad.

However, with the PM and his family becoming embroiled in the controversy surrounding the Panama Papers leak, his trip to London has created a lot of interest in political circles. In particular, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari’s presence in London is being viewed meaningfully by the media at home.

Lending credence to the possibility of a meeting between the two political heavyweights — a sitting PM and a former president, no less — was PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan. At a time when PTI Chairman Imran Khan is ready to launch another sit-in, this time in Raiwind, the leader of the opposition in the Senate had been casting doubt on the reasons for the PM’s sudden visit to London.

Talking to journalists outside parliament on Tuesday, Senator Ahsan wisecracked: “The prime minister has no medical issues and is only visiting London to present himself in the court of Asif Ali Zardari.”

He was also quick to add that whenever the prime minister came under pressure, he always looked towards the PPP leadership for help.

But in response, Dr Musadik Malik, one of the many spokespersons from the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the PM had neither expressed a desire to meet the PPP leader nor had he scheduled a meeting with him. The PM is only visiting London for a medical check-up, Dr Malik said.

But when asked, a senior PTI leader said that there was every likelihood that the PM was going to ask the PPP to bail him out, considering the pressure mounting on him to have the claims against his family investigated. In return for coming to his rescue, the PPP may ask for something, since Dr Asim Hussain and many other senior PPP leaders in Sindh were facing serious charges.

Many of the PPP’s detractors argued that last year’s acquittal from much-talked about SGS & Cotecna was made possible due to a weak prosecution of the case by the PML-N government.

In background discussions, a well-connected PML-N lawmaker admitted that there was a great deal of nervousness among the party’s top leaders following the leak of the Panama Papers.

The PTI chairman, meanwhile, is also heading to London on the coming weekend to attend a couple of fundraisers for his Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2016

Pakistan

PM to leave for London tomorrow

A gift from Panama

No loss of sleep over Panama Papers

Zubeida Aapa

Apr 13, 2016 07:15am

In Pakistan - tongues always wag - for one reason or another - or no reason!

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People of Pakistan

Apr 13, 2016 07:34am

It was better for him, first resigned and then gone for treatment,we can pay for his treatment.

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Adnan shah

Apr 13, 2016 07:37am

They all should have been in travel industry if they love going abroad

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Haha

Apr 13, 2016 07:51am

Nation needs to wake up or else we will remain under their and their childrens' servitude for ever

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Tanvir

Apr 13, 2016 08:02am

It's a shame that all Pakistani Presidents and Prime Ministers failed to establish quality health care and check-up services in Pakistan for themselves and their people. Such leaders should be banned from travelling to other countries for health check-ups until their people also have access to quality health care in their neighborhoods.

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Naeem

Apr 13, 2016 08:02am

NS is actually going to check on the billions stashed away in London The poor have dismal medical services and NS is going to spend millions on medical check up. Is there no hospital in Pakistan where NS can go.

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Waqar

Apr 13, 2016 08:57am

These plunderers couldn't built even one hospital in Pakistan where they themself get the treatment, let alone the nation. No vision.....only good at corruption...billions and billions.

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Farrukh Arshad

Apr 13, 2016 09:22am

I know this has become a very naive thought in Pakistan but still if one wonders Can't he get his medical checkup from Pakistan ? What kind of example he is setting ?

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Khalid Latif

Apr 13, 2016 09:32am

True coverage of events. Why do we feel shy of saying that Pakistan has become hostage of two most corrupt politicians, who have been manuplating to remain in power, to continue looting and plundring the national wealth? Why is no one talking about Saifullah brothers, who own much more wealth, as shown in the Panama Papers? Much more than Nawaz family's hidden wealth. Simply, because the intention, here, is to remove the government, not the recovery of the plundered national money. This issue is being used only as a justification to disqualify the government. The people of Pakistan should set a pre condition for casting their future votes. "Votes will go to only those whose efforts result in the recovery of the stolen national wealth"---period.

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Khwaja

Apr 13, 2016 10:20am

The opposition needs to keep a close eye on Mister Sharif now. He and his offspring may try to cover their tracks in the coming days. Imran, be wise about this for once?

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Mahmood

Apr 13, 2016 11:00am

Lame excuses about medical checkup aside, isn't it ironic that a nation boasts about its indigenous nuclear program, burgeoning of nuclear warheads, long-range missiles, jointly produce fighter jets, and drones etc. which no doubt required $billions in investments and research. And yet, the PM, former president Musharraf, even Malala had to seek medical treatment abroad, because this fledgling nuclear power of 200 million souls, with many talented and highly qualified professionals doesn't have one single quality hospital or medical facility which could save tax payers $$$ millions everytime the PM decides to hope on plane to seek medical checkup abroad!? What's wrong with this picture? Everything!!

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Khwarezmi

Apr 13, 2016 11:18am

Very fankly, it is just embarassing for us Pakistani's living in Europe to see our Prime Minister in Europe every other day. There has to be more work to be done in Pakistan for our PM.

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Debate-Debit-Credit

Apr 13, 2016 11:35am

Looks like there is only one political party which is PTI in Pakistan rest all see like mafia groups under different dons. I don't see any real politics other than PTI all the other are just busy cooperation with each other to hide their corruption. I am sorry to say this!

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Hasnain Haque

Apr 13, 2016 11:43am

It is simply astonishing why other parties are not screaming for investigations, the answer is simple, they are also guilty of same crimes. This is what happens when the whole system is rotten, everyone saves their skin whilst the country suffers.

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Hasnain Haque

Apr 13, 2016 11:46am

PMLN and NS did not need to set up any inquiry, all he had to do was declare all his assets and tax paid and let the nation know how the money was earned. It is simple as that, this is what the PM of UK did and everyone can see. But of course when you have so much to hide, you make every effort to muddy the waters and take evasive actions.

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Faizan

Apr 13, 2016 01:02pm

It is astonishing that a ruler of a country or as a matter of fact none of the politicians consider the facilities in the country they live in worthy to be used. They don't get a medical checkup here, don't educate their children here, don't like to keep their money in local banks and are ashamed of living among their own people. The people should have realised by now what a leader means and who they can trust but unfortunately money is the new God and everyones busy looking for it.

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citizen

Apr 13, 2016 01:32pm

Prime Minister himself dont believe in the health care system of his country..strange.. I remember PM of the neighbour Dr.Manmohan Singh got his surgery done in Delhi only.. shows the difference. At times I got doubt whether our's is a democratic country or mediveal kingdom in which King can do anything he wishes, and not accountable to anybody..

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M. Malik

Apr 13, 2016 01:41pm

I can't think of a single nation on this planet, big or small, where the ruling clans have such vivid foreign interests or bases outside the country - as they do in Pakistan. From MQM chief, to PPP leaders and NS's family and interests and dual nationalities. Anywhere else they would all be disqualified from running for office in their native countries! Just look at Mayanmmar alone!

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Apr 13, 2016 02:48pm

Nawaz Sharif will travelling to London "Routine Check Up". Ilaaj Pakistan se baahir, (Medical treatment outside Pakistan) Karobaar Pakistan se baahir, (Businesses established outside Pakistan) Ghar Pakistan se baahir... (Property outside Pakistan) lekin Hakoomat Pakistan mein. (And he is the Prime Minister of Pakistan) I dont know who is to blame, Nawaz Sharif & Family or those Pakistanis who support them.

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Jawed Sheikh

Apr 13, 2016 03:25pm

@FM Very well said

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Kaspar

Apr 13, 2016 03:29pm

It is time plunderers were banned from politics altogether. One reason for Pakistan not having good education and healthcare is the rulers' foreign interests and propensity to hold property and businesses in the West and elsewhere and fly off at the first sign of trouble for themselves or threat to their interests. The people must wake up and struggle to bring about change the system that helps them get elected over and over again.

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inam ali east london

Apr 13, 2016 03:33pm

I am appaulled as to what is happening in Pak watan, it seems to me that there are two major parties PPP and MNA, Zardari and Nawaz both taking turns and keep coming back in power, how gullable are the awaam! they keep electing same leaders all the time, how you ever wonder why Pakistan is so poor? we need strong leaders like Iran who can withstand pressure and do what is right for the country.

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truth

Apr 13, 2016 04:26pm

Undoubtedly a dubious visit , following the political culture.When the Change will come?

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Mahmood

Apr 13, 2016 04:33pm

Expect NS to return from London with 'Wag the Dog' strategy to deflect and distract everyone from Panama Papers revelations!

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Iftikhar Husain

Apr 13, 2016 04:33pm

It is a very good weather in London I hope they Mr N and Mr Z will enjoy their stay

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Rifat Mohsin

Apr 13, 2016 04:57pm

Pakistanis are a great people and if I may add even in these callous times, the humane side of Pakistanis is so apparent in charity, arts and sports etc but for some unknown reasons, the Pakistanis are subjected to worst kind of leadership for number of years and I am not really sure whether it is the composition of the society or the social engineering experiment gone wrong. The quality of current Pakistani leadership and its associated inadequacies is in fact so fascinating in many ways that it may open research areas for future students of current history. Whosoever is the leader, my only request to him/her, please instill the respect for human life in Pakistani national pschyce and this cannot be achieved unless we address the root causes of socio-economic divide.

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nwa

Apr 13, 2016 05:54pm

His life is more important then the rest of the Pakistanis!!!

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Afzal Mir

Apr 13, 2016 06:02pm

This happens when we elect crooks to run our affairs. No hope.

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Mehboob Chabriwala

Apr 14, 2016 02:42am

Yes it makes complete sense both can share notes in how to get out of the quigmare they find themselves in at the moment they have at least one thing in common.

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Mansoor Khan

Apr 15, 2016 07:04pm

If you love Pakistan, live in Pakistan and die in Pakistan! If Pakistan lacks medical, then build a healthy medical system in the country which could be enjoyed by all Pakistanis, including the prime minister. Don't go running overseas every time you have a tummy ache. After all you are the leader of the nation who is elected to build the nation.

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Pakistani

Apr 15, 2016 08:24pm

looks like they just come back to run political parties. Rest they are more at home abroad.

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Apr 15, 2016 08:52pm

What is truly fascinating about the politics of the sub continent is its total unpredictability. Imagine how boring life would be if those who got elected remained in office for their entire term.

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