LAHORE: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan says the government is playing its part efficiently by identifying the corrupt and presenting proofs to the institutions and now it is duty of all the institutions, including judiciary, to punish the culprits.

Speaking to the media at the Akhuwat office on Thursday, Dr Awan said the grant of bail to Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif did not mean that the allegations did not prove or the case had concluded. She also chided the PML-N spokespersons for making statements as if Shehbaz had been exonerated from all charges as the trial in the case was yet to be held. She added that Mr Sharif had got benefit of being a senior citizen of over 70 years of age. She, however, accepted that the bail had been granted by the court and the government accepted it.

The SACM pointed out that weak prosecution by a low-paid prosecutor was a serious challenge to the government side while the powerful accused had hired highly expensive lawyer, who also used his ‘face value’ to get bail for his client.

“The law ministry is working on the subject of strengthening the prosecution system,” she declared.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan can only identify the accused and then it was up to the state institutions to coordinate well and get the accused punished,” she said.

Answering a question, Dr Awan said Maryam Nawaz’ twitter account had gone silent, which showed they (PML-N leaders) were tired after fruitless fight against the government.

In the wake of the release of Shehbaz Sharif, Ms Awan said it was up to Mr Sharif and Ms Maryam to decide who would stay at Jati Umra and who would go to Karachi and London.

Dr Awan said the PTI government’s main focus was public welfare because the welfare of the masses was the real democratic change.

She stressed that the PTI government was working to bring a holistic change in the society through meaningful measures, instead of accommodating the Jati Umra cabal. She said the PTI government had taken several steps, including the Ehsas programme and shelter homes, to rehabilitate the homeless people.

The SACM lauded Akhuwat for playing a pivotal role in empowering women and providing employment opportunities to the youth and ensuring a poverty-free society. She said Akhuwat, in collaboration with the Punjab government, had provided Rs86bn loans to the needy. She said together with Akhuwat, the government had decided to financially support the needy students who wanted to study further.

Dr Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given Rs5bn grant to the Akhuwat for construction of subsidized houses. She said Akhuwat had provided financial support to 86,000 needy persons for construction of houses and this was the real change at the grassroots. She hoped that the daunting challenge of unemployment would be overcome in collaboration with genuine philanthropic bodies.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said those who got loans from 631 Akhuwat centres included 51pc beneficiaries men while 49pc women. Akhuwat Foundation Executive Director Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib also spoke.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021