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Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi bore all expenses of his visit to London personally, BBC Urdu reported on Tuesday while quoting the Prime Minister House.
The top leadership of the PML-N had met in the British capital recently for a key consultative meeting to decide both the party’s and the government’s position on what steps to take next. PM Abbasi and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had both flown to London on Sunday to meet ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Abbasi had reportedly left for London without any announcement and protocol. Subsequently, the development had stirred a controversy on social media as a large number of people accused the prime minister and other PML-N leaders of using taxpayer money to make the trip.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), for example, accused Abbasi of using "taxpayer money to visit a disqualified person". PTI MNA Murad Saeed had also submitted an adjournment motion before the National Assembly to discuss the matter.
When questioned by reporters on his arrival in London, Abbasi had said he was visiting London in his personal capacity and had taken a day's leave from his office in order to attend the meeting.
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Comments (48) Closed
Oct 31, 2017 11:28pm
Did he declare it as personal leave of absence and documented it?
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Oct 31, 2017 11:35pm
Party meeting of course. Dar, ex PM NS and Co are all in London!
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Oct 31, 2017 11:35pm
Well done PM but what about the rest of the people? Did they also pocket total expenses themselves like PM? Did they also took leave to attend the meeting? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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Oct 31, 2017 11:47pm
I vote this gentleman to be our next PM.
He's clean and carries the confidence to speak to the Americans while looking in their eyes.
Thumbs up!
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Oct 31, 2017 11:48pm
Well, its certainly a good example by the PM to pay for the trip from his own pocket, I'm not too sure about the others, like Shahbaz Sharif, the X- interior minister and others, these leaders should also clarify how the trip was paid.
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Oct 31, 2017 11:49pm
I like this PM
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Oct 31, 2017 11:50pm
Really???
You loot the country and keep the funds outside in offshore accounts and then say you bought your own ticket.haha
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Nov 01, 2017 12:02am
scratch that, i have 586, so were gonna find out if scott is letting them in free...
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Nov 01, 2017 12:12am
Good job PM
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Nov 01, 2017 12:24am
PM claims he was educated in the US, but his actions have demonstrated that he is clueless about "conflict of interest;" how could he manage his own "Air Blue" and at the same time manage national carrier "PIA," a very clear violation of "conflict of interest."
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Nov 01, 2017 12:25am
Accusing someone without investigation is in ethical.
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Nov 01, 2017 12:51am
I guess meeting with a disqualified person is more important then running the country. What a shame.
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Nov 01, 2017 12:52am
Time is money. Whether they used their money is beside the point; Main thing is TIME that they are still using for their own personal interest and not spending for the betterment of Pakistani citizen. This shows their abuse of power and neglect of the Pakistani citizen and their interest.
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Nov 01, 2017 12:59am
What paper or other proof can he & other ministers provide to confirm their statement. Considering that Nawaz Sharif & family lied in Supreme Court any thing is expected from this Govt to save their skin. I even wonder whether money for bailable warrants are paid from their own pockets or govt coffers.
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Nov 01, 2017 01:00am
Who grants the prime minister a days’ leave?
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Nov 01, 2017 01:15am
Was PIA's Business class fully blocked off for him, and no other fare paying passenger was permitted to fly on that flight in that class? Did he pay PIA for all the seats unused for the revenue lost, for both the return sector of the flight?
If not then please write a cheque to PIA from your personal bank account.
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Nov 01, 2017 01:17am
How about the other cronies ?
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Nov 01, 2017 01:20am
Who approved his one day leave. Just a question.
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Nov 01, 2017 01:32am
What and where is the proof?
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Nov 01, 2017 01:33am
Good. And what about the others.
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Nov 01, 2017 01:45am
A PM of a country have to declare this. What state we reduced to..
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Nov 01, 2017 02:15am
What about the other lost sheep of PML-N clan? Would they be able to produce tangible proof of their total expenses?
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Nov 01, 2017 02:16am
Where is the proof that PM paid all expenses from his pocket. I personally do not accept this statement made by Mr Abbasi!
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Nov 01, 2017 03:14am
I for one do not believe the claim by the PM-House until documentary proof is provided to the Senate of Pakistan.
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Nov 01, 2017 03:40am
An audit should be done to confirm the trip was on personal expense. This government is not trustworthy.
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Nov 01, 2017 03:42am
Big deal. This guy owns an airline.
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Nov 01, 2017 03:54am
Is there any example on earth like this?
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Nov 01, 2017 04:18am
No competent people to lead the democratic Pakistan!
The time-pass PM visits London to take orders from the former PM who has been unceremoniously unseated and he has moved out of the country. But he would not like to leave or face the consequences of his deeds!
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Nov 01, 2017 05:04am
This is what will happen when you have proxies as prime minister.. Next time Pakistan should elect a strong and clean government
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Nov 01, 2017 05:48am
He can spend a little bit from the looted billions l
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Nov 01, 2017 06:29am
It would be shame on him if we used funds from exchequer
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Nov 01, 2017 06:35am
These personal expenses would be recovered ultimately through other means
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Nov 01, 2017 06:50am
How many days he will remain out of office ? Only one Day ? He has mentioned that he has taken One Day's leave for his absence. The To and Fro journey and the meetings all in one day ? Pakistan lawmakers are really very efficient and fast moving.
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Nov 01, 2017 07:07am
But why he visited ? What is more important than running a country?
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Nov 01, 2017 07:30am
How did shahbaz travel
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Nov 01, 2017 08:06am
This is very good and appreciated step of the PM. He has paid his private travel cost. People should applaud him that he takes care of public money. However, one day time of his office was squandered which, he could utilize to ameliorate for public wellbeing. Now, his utmost responsibilities is the public welfare and the country. The party should run by the office bearers of the party.
Anyway, the things are moving in the right direction. Pakistan will progress and prosper.
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Nov 01, 2017 08:27am
Fine, he visited London on personal expense and had taken a day off to visit London, but what about this: "The meeting, held on Monday, was presided over by Nawaz Sharif and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal." Was this a personal matter or a matter of the Party or the State. If the PM is a mere puppet whose strings are pulled by an indicted, corrupt and disqualified person, do we really need him as PM? That's why early elections are needed to restore some semblance of authority to the Government.
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Nov 01, 2017 09:08am
Not a fan of any mainstream political party; however, if the above details are true then this is a pleasant change and greatly appreciated. Thank you PM Abbasi for leading from the front.
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Nov 01, 2017 09:40am
leave application may be shown public simultaneously record who booked the flight for PM his private empolyee or public empolyee.
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Nov 01, 2017 09:48am
He went there to attend meetings with NS. E can call it a private trip.
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Nov 01, 2017 10:07am
A nice move by nice leader
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Nov 01, 2017 11:16am
Nawaz can't come to pakistan but our PM can go to LONDON. What a country
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Nov 01, 2017 11:18am
which airline he is flying with probably one that belongs to him ...
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Nov 01, 2017 11:20am
Khaqan Abbasi should run for PM. Seems much better than the rest
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Nov 01, 2017 11:27am
This is a good sign on part of the PM. Will the other PML-N party leaders who visited London also share who paid for their visit - was it paid personally or from the tax payers' money.
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Nov 01, 2017 11:37am
@OZ Like months long dharna was more important than running the province
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Nov 01, 2017 12:28pm
We know he can afford it but did he take leave of absence from the work of prime minister for the duration of his visit and will he claim salary and other perks to which he is entitled as the p.m. of the country? If there is no law in this regard, surely it is time to enact one to stop the malpractices going on about this matter forthwith.
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Nov 01, 2017 05:04pm
A good example to set. PM Abbasi is a down to earth politician, who has a wise and balanced head. Hope others can take a queue from him. All these leaders have enough money to afford their trips abroad from their own earnings.
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