7 PPP MNAs seek NRO, claims minister

Murad Saeed accuses opposition of launching personal attacks against him

ISLAMABAD: Communications Minister Murad Saeed claimed in the National Assembly on Wednesday that seven lawmakers belonging to the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had approached him for an NRO.

Speaking on the floor of the house, he accused the opposition of launching personal attacks, instead of speaking with arguments in parliament. He added that the opposition’s criticism of the budget without presenting facts and figures was ridiculous.

He said that seven members of the National Assembly (MNAs) had requested him for NRO – the amnesty granted by former president Gen Musharraf to politicians through the National Reconciliation Ordinance in 2007.

“One of those MNAs is sitting here at the moment,” the minister told the house. “Here they make requests but hatch conspiracies behind our backs,” he continued. “I have exposed four and will expose more,” he added.

The minister slammed personal attacks on him in the house. On the contrary, he added that he had not attacked anyone personally. “Even my family was targeted in the name of opposition politics. My speeches may be critical, but I have not personally attacked anyone,” he added.

“There is a campaign against me on the social media,” he said, adding that he could also do the same but he chose not to. “launching personal attacks against someone is reprehensible,” the minister said. He also said that he would never accept the continuation of status quo.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Babar Awan said that Nawaz Sharif wanted to return to Pakistan and “we have no objection” to it. “We are ready to book tickets for Nawaz Sharif and his children” for their return to the country, he added.

PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Murtaza Javed Abbasi criticised the government’s policies. They said that PML-N leadership was not being allowed to do politics. They also demanded the formation of a commission over sending references against two judges.