LAHORE: The Punjab government would not allow any extension in parole period of Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, and his son Hamza Shehbaz, who holds the same portfolio in the Punjab Assembly, as requested by both.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said here on Tuesday “extending release on parole is not a part of government’s policy. Whether it is a member of the Sharif family or an ordinary citizen, the government will ensure the same law.”

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, who has been on five-day parole due to death of his mother, had applied for extension earlier in the day, stating: “Since Mr Shehbaz Sharif is leader of the Opposition and president of one of the largest parties in the country and Mr Hamza Sehbaz Sharif is leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, people from all walks of life and from all over the country are coming for condolences. It is, therefore, requested that an extension in parole be granted with immediate effect.”

Ruling out extension, Dr Awan, who was talking to media at the Governor’s House, said: “Shehbaz Sharif will not be allowed to play politics on the death of his mother. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar already gave a five-day release on parole to both of them instead of 12 hours on humanitarian grounds. Sharifs should not have asked for extension in the first place. Shehbaz Sharif was released to attend his mother’s funeral. He would not be allowed any extension for politics and look after his business affairs.”

Later, addressing the press conference at DGPR Headquarters office, she said an FIR would be registered against the organisers of the Multan rally for violating the Punjab Infectious Diseases Control Act. Apart from 22 persons from PML-N, 16 from PPP, 13 from JUI-F and some unknown persons had been nominated in the FIR as well.

The opposition, she continued, must realise that public has rejected their stance. Those who looted public money for 40 years are now grieving for common man just to save their looted wealth. The alliance of opposition is only to protect their personal interests and has nothing to do with people’s problem, she added.

The PDM violated the court order and the corona SOPs. The PDM may continue its political rhetoric but refrain from playing with lives of the people. The PDM rallies are resulting in increasing corona cases, she claimed.

She said that during the speech of Maryam Safdar at the Multan rally, a fire broke out in a warehouse due to the fireworks and the warehouse owner demanded a case against former PML-N MPA Shahid who was responsible for it.

She said that Maulana Fazal ur Rehman distributed sticks among his workers to attack the police. The government was aware of the conspiracy and hence directed the police to stay away from any kind of clash.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2020