LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Miftah Ismael says his party will support the government in extension of tenure of military courts only if the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf satisfies them in parliament on the issue, while his party colleague Musaddaq Malik denies reports that efforts are being made to arrange a meeting between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
“The military courts issue will be discussed in parliament. And if the government satisfied the PML-N lawmakers on the reasons behind extending term of the special courts, they will support the cause,” the former adviser on finance told the media here on Sunday.
He said the government lacked a clear vision on the economy as it failed to reach a final decision on approaching the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package. He said the uncertainty on economic affairs coupled with other issues had slowed down the economic growth, which had come down to three per cent from 6pc during the PML-N regime. He blamed the government’s ineptness for the current spate of loadshedding in the country, damaging the national economy.
Responding to a question, Mr Ismael said Prime Minister Imran Khan lacked powers to grant NRO-like deal to anyone and dared the PTI ministers to reveal the names of those who had sought the so-called relief.
About his appearance before the National Accountability Bureau, he said the meeting with the NAB officers was held in a congenial atmosphere as no extraordinary question was put to him. He said the NAB authorities had issued him a questionnaire and he would respond to the same by Friday next.
Musaddaq Malik told reporters that no efforts were under way for arranging a meeting between former prime minister Sharif and former president Asif Zardari. He said uncertain government policies were scaring the investors away and people, including media persons, were losing jobs.
The PML-N leader said the government through politicking implicated the friendly states and thus embarrassed their rulers.
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2019
