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Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday defended Pakistan Television's (PTV) allocation of sizable airtime to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, saying that doing so was a discretionary right conferred upon her by the federal cabinet.
Aurangzeb's defence of Pakistan Television's programming policy came after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Senator Faisal Javed, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting and National Heritage, commented that the state network is spending millions of rupees on hours-long speeches of a "disqualified" person and his daughter.
Read: Lawmakers criticise PTV for ‘only covering’ govt events
"Only one party, one person and his daughter get coverage on PTV," Javed said. "Three-hour-long speeches of a disqualified person and his daughter are broadcast live. Millions of rupees are being spent on such transmissions."
"The only thing lacking is airing of dramas titled 'mujhey kyun nikala (Why was I forced out)' on PTV. Perhaps, they should show Nawaz Sharif on PTV Home and PTV Sports as well," the committee chairman said in an acerbic attack on the information ministry.
"PTV cannot be allowed to run in the manner of a dictatorship," Javed added, asking the ministry of information to explain its news programming.
At this, Aurangzeb came to PTV's defence, saying: "The Cabinet has given me the power to make policy. It is my discretionary right.
"Nawaz Sharif is a national leader; he has been the prime minister three times. If he and Maryam Nawaz speak for even five hours [at a stretch], we will broadcast it live."
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (106) Closed
May 15, 2018 08:02pm
The Sharif family is becoming tiresome. No one wants to hear them.
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May 15, 2018 08:03pm
Who is she ??
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May 15, 2018 08:05pm
Enjoy the previlage of PTV for another 2 weeks. Good luck after that ...
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May 15, 2018 08:06pm
Who watches PTV these days.
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May 15, 2018 08:07pm
Brilliant. Can we rename Maryam Aurangzeb Minister for promotion of nawaz and maryam?
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May 15, 2018 08:12pm
Who still watch PTV amid sensational private news broadcasters ?
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May 15, 2018 08:12pm
Remember, Ms Aurangzab, PTV is a national TV and not exclusively for disqualified Nawaz Sharif's and his family's personal speeches against army and judiciary - it will be a different story after after 31 May!
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May 15, 2018 08:14pm
This attitude shows their mindset. Just you think she is minster and enjoying on our tax.But they think only for NS family. Like she is Minister of NS family nor Pakistan.
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May 15, 2018 08:18pm
This stance is undemocratic, why to spend taxpayers money on one disqualified former politician..?
The state revenues are not for the profiling of one political party or its functionaries...
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May 15, 2018 08:19pm
One word! Shameless ....
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May 15, 2018 08:19pm
Chief Justice must notice what she is saying, it looks like ptv is their personal property.
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May 15, 2018 08:22pm
What she is indirectly saying is the corruption of tax payers monies will continue facilitated by incompetent. Day is reckoning is approaching fast. Should people at large tolerate a few more days of mismanagement?
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May 15, 2018 08:25pm
People devoid of any scruples running this country.
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May 15, 2018 08:27pm
thats 5 hours of complete nonsense broadcasted by PTV - I would rather like to see Nawaz give a live interview to a news channel but that won't happen because he needs to read from a script unlike Imran Khan.
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May 15, 2018 08:28pm
Some people will never learn
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May 15, 2018 08:30pm
If this what you want might as well allow Altaf Hussain to make a couple of hours on PTV! Why ban him.
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May 15, 2018 08:30pm
She is absolutely right that she has the authority but she should also know that misusing authority is the crime as well morally and legally!!
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May 15, 2018 08:40pm
Please do so at own expense - not at taxpayers
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May 15, 2018 08:40pm
Yeah they inherited it just like the whole money and resources of the country.
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May 15, 2018 08:43pm
OK. NS was the Prime Minister. PTV may broadcast live his speeches but why Maryam Nawaz's speeches are also being broadcast live. Who is she?
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May 15, 2018 08:43pm
Okay but who watches PTV in this day and age? The only time PTV is relevant when watching Cricket Matches on PTV Sport.
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May 15, 2018 08:43pm
Mafia !!!
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May 15, 2018 08:50pm
No quality question no quality answer.
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May 15, 2018 08:51pm
Who watches PTV anyway, Nawaz and his daughter?
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May 15, 2018 09:03pm
If PML-N fails to form the next government, this considerable expense on the taxpayer's dime will be called to reckoning. InshaAllah.
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May 15, 2018 09:07pm
That is why they need to be removed immediately. They have no regard for public money
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May 15, 2018 09:08pm
PML-N is a mafia, how dare she can say that.
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May 15, 2018 09:09pm
PTV runs from your money?
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May 15, 2018 09:09pm
So that PTV is a personal channel for Nawaz Sharif and his daughter to broadcast their silly speeches - Ms Aurangzeb!
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May 15, 2018 09:12pm
How about common Pakistanis complaining about poverty, power/electricity shortages, food security, etc. so that awareness of the masses is raised to pick and elect the right ones next time rather than being stuck with the ousted Sharif's rants! Such a pity that this country is going through having inept and incompetent parliamentarians.
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May 15, 2018 09:24pm
PTV executives will and should be questioned, why what for?
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May 15, 2018 09:25pm
the depth of arrogance and vanity
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May 15, 2018 09:29pm
Now that’s the reason why I won’t vote for PMLN.
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May 15, 2018 09:29pm
Now that’s the reason why I won’t vote for PMLN.
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May 15, 2018 09:29pm
Is Minister information the only person who pays tax in this country? is it not tax payers money where single privileged person is allowed five hours for live coverage? Isn't it a mus-use of powers?
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May 15, 2018 09:30pm
might is right
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May 15, 2018 09:36pm
This is the way our rulers and their cronies waste public money just to be relevant to their socalled supreme leader.On one hand we have only 16% taxpayers, majority of them government servants, and on the other hand our socalled custodians of public funds provided to their respective ministries for justified expenditure,waste these meager resources either on pomp and show or projecting the tarnished image of their supreme leader undergoing accountability on charges of corruption.It is very encouraging to read that there are honest & upright senators who question this wasteful expenditure-but at the same time one feel pity & disgust over the response of one accused of this waste of public funds, claiming immunity from any audit for being minister incharge.It is no wonder that we 44% of our poor children are suffering from curse of malnution, 45% from illiteracy, & millions exposed to deformity of their limbs by drinkinking arsenic laden water. The country needs a break sooner the better
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May 15, 2018 09:43pm
People of this country didn't give you the right to spend their money to broadcast disqualified and corrupt leader.
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May 15, 2018 09:53pm
"Pity we"
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May 15, 2018 09:53pm
Aurangzeb came to PTV's defence, saying: "The Cabinet has given me the power to make policy. It is my discretionary right.
Wow. Just privatize PTV. At least all this ?? will not be subsidized from Taxpayers money
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May 15, 2018 10:02pm
Is Maryam an elected politician or MNA?
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May 15, 2018 10:03pm
Aurangzeb came to PTV's defence, saying: "The Cabinet has given me the power to make policy. It is my discretionary right.
Wow. Privatize PTV. Abuse of taxpayers money.
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May 15, 2018 10:03pm
Boring !
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May 15, 2018 10:05pm
So they take tax money from all Pakistanis, PTV bill is included in our electricity bill every month. Then they choose to show onl speeches of their disqualified party leader and his daughter . If this is “democracy” then dictatorship is better
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May 15, 2018 10:05pm
PML-N are trying their best for some one to kick them out so that they can claim sahadat. Both Mariyums should realize that it wont happen and Nawaz will not see the fourth term
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May 15, 2018 10:06pm
Only up to May 30th. After that they will be in the dust bin of history.
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May 15, 2018 10:08pm
This is more than wasting public money. This is about abusing power and commuting crime by a minister.
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May 15, 2018 10:08pm
Wow, PTV is funded by the public exchequer but runs on commands from one person; the information minister as the propaganda machine for the ruling party! It is a clear misuse of public funds for partisan purposes. Either PTV should be shut down completely or it should be removed from the control of the information ministry and run by a board of independent civil society members in public interest and welfare
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May 15, 2018 10:10pm
And they wonder why Pakistanis don't pay taxes.
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May 15, 2018 10:13pm
@ahmad "might is right"
True, but what might?
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May 15, 2018 10:18pm
So Ms Aurangzeb, PTV is a private channel of disqualified Nawaz Sharif and his daughter for making silly speeches and inciting public? This is what you imply and I totally disagree with your notion!
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May 15, 2018 10:22pm
People who don't understand IK's "tabdeeli". This is exactly what he is trying to change.
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May 15, 2018 10:22pm
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA - well said, and I fully agree with your views!
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May 15, 2018 10:24pm
lol loyal darbaris ...
incompetence and arrogance is what its called ...
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May 15, 2018 10:28pm
lets all the criminals speak on ptv?
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May 15, 2018 10:37pm
Arrogance and ignorance. The hallmarks of our systems.
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May 15, 2018 10:37pm
wow! check out the ignorance and arrogance! what kind of people did we put in power!
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May 15, 2018 10:45pm
For what? is PTV their ancestral property that they brough from amritsar?
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May 15, 2018 10:53pm
PTV should give all parties and their leaders' equal opportunities. PTV is NOT a PLM-N property. The stupid utterance shows Maryam Aurangzeb like her party and its Quaid-for-Life has no clue of democratic norms.
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May 15, 2018 11:02pm
Andheri Nagari NAWAZ Raja”, which roughly translates “Dark is the nation and insane Pakistani Nawaz Raja ( King ). and to add insult to the injury insane and shameless Information Minister Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
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May 15, 2018 11:06pm
@Bakht: what was your reason to vote for PML N earlier?
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May 15, 2018 11:10pm
Send this slave to his master's home. She doesn't deserve to be a minister of an independent nation.
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May 15, 2018 11:15pm
..its a state owned TV channel.....and we pay tax that is why government is able to run it......a private TV channel should be used for the propaganda campaign....let state TV stay unbiased....we should not make it North Korean state television....
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May 15, 2018 11:20pm
PTV is a state channel, not their father property
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May 15, 2018 11:25pm
Yes please spend tax payers money on monkeys.
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May 15, 2018 11:34pm
Pathetic, Arrogant and Absurd.
This is the end of the PMLN. We had seen enough of their arrogance but they would not learn. I am ashamed to have such people elected in our country.
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May 15, 2018 11:37pm
exclusive version for DAWN of sitting democratic govt. congratulation DAWN
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May 15, 2018 11:44pm
No wonder the country has gone to dogs.
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May 15, 2018 11:46pm
in one word........shameless.
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May 15, 2018 11:55pm
This minister will soon learn that she would have been better off if she has respected SC decision of disqualification of those who she is trying to worship.
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May 16, 2018 12:21am
Limits are limits ........... complete ignorance ..............
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May 16, 2018 12:42am
With all that has happened to NS, PMLN (et all) still refuses to learn a lesson. Public resources and funds are not supposed to be used for personal benefit.
Why is the concept of malfeasance so difficult to understand?
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May 16, 2018 12:56am
OK. NS was three times Prime Minister. PTV may broadcast live his speeches but why should it broadcast Mariam Nawaz's speeches???
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May 16, 2018 01:03am
Typical example of PMLN leaders not really caring about people. I am sure people don't pay tv licence fees for this.
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May 16, 2018 01:40am
see here is the problem. This is one of the many reasons I would never support PMLN
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May 16, 2018 02:16am
Abuse of national resources by a defunct group of politicians
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May 16, 2018 02:17am
Don't be surprised, Nawaz cronies are running PTV
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May 16, 2018 02:34am
If this is democracy then give us dictatorship anytime.
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May 16, 2018 03:07am
Does PTV belongs to the nation or PML-N.
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May 16, 2018 03:08am
What a stupid response and reasoning. She is unfit to be custodian of public trust
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May 16, 2018 03:24am
Can't belive this is our information minister.
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May 16, 2018 03:26am
@Ahsan Gul She is a poor choice for information minister - can't see her working in an office.
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May 16, 2018 03:30am
State institutions will be run now only either to support Nawaz Sharif or oppose him.
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May 16, 2018 03:34am
Bravo, Marriyum Aurangzeb ! LONG LIVE PML-N !!
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May 16, 2018 03:45am
These people are running public institutions like their personal fiefdom.
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May 16, 2018 03:46am
People are tired of listening to them.
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May 16, 2018 04:09am
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA People get what the vote for....
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May 16, 2018 05:25am
PTV execs: This is "INSANITY". Please have some shame and self respect and please don't destroy the country.
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May 16, 2018 05:38am
How can Maryam Aurangzeb as a minister can make such an irresponsible and arrogant statement.PTV is a national tv station it is not her or shareef family business. She must be taken to task.
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May 16, 2018 05:55am
why is the former PM getting air time???
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May 16, 2018 06:16am
This is pure corruption and the minister should be tried in court for it. The powers provided by the cabinet does not mean go and use it all for self gain.
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May 16, 2018 06:54am
Discretionary Powers are giving somebody the freedom to make a decision according to individual circumstances and according to the merits of an individual case, rather than being provided or awarded automatically, keeping in view this definition Maryam Aurang Zeb being representative of Pakistan will use these powers in favor of State entrust not party entrust. However if she insist to represent party the she should quit.
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May 16, 2018 07:12am
Does she has any shame or moral courage to justify her actions. May I ask who is Marium Nawaz Sharif and in which capacity she is being given air time?
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May 16, 2018 07:36am
Not on tax payers money!
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May 16, 2018 08:00am
PTV is the propaganda channel now?
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May 16, 2018 08:03am
Is PTV your personal property? You are answerable to the people not NS.
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May 16, 2018 08:40am
She should be put to jail.
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May 16, 2018 08:49am
stupidity at its best when PML N supporters say anything to support Nawaz Sharif just like at once it happened with MQM supporters as and when they were trying to defend Altaf Hussain.
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May 16, 2018 09:17am
@Ahsan Gul I doubt that.
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May 16, 2018 09:17am
That was a poor choice of words mariuam auranzaib.
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May 16, 2018 10:51am
Enjoy "Democracy"
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May 16, 2018 11:21am
Statement by the minister shows she and the govt. Thinks PTV is their property, NO its people of Pakistan who r the real owners of govt. But sadly this is the attitude of our ruling elite.
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May 16, 2018 04:12pm
No one watches PTV nowadays it’s not 80s and 90s anymore
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May 16, 2018 04:43pm
This is what you get when you appoint your personal employees as Federal Ministers....
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May 17, 2018 12:10am
Marriyum Aurangzeb has turned PTV into her own version Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry.
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May 17, 2018 06:59am
The minister’s time is running out Soon reality will set in to show the real face of NS one of the most corrupt leader How can he sleep at night knowing he has looted billions
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