Shibli Faraz belittles APC as ‘bunch of losers’

Maryam announces Sharif’s entry into world of Twitter

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Saturday, belittling the opposition’s all parties conference (APC), called it a gathering of a “bunch of losers”, who would be addressed by a “convicted criminal”.

“The APC will be a gathering of accused and losers and aims at creating a law and order situation and chaos in the country,” the minister said while addressing a news conference. He was flanked by Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Shehzad Akbar.

Faraz said the government was not scared of the APC. “A bunch of losers will meet tomorrow to offer each other shoulder to cry on,” he said. “They neither have any strategy nor are we scared of them... APC will fail miserably to make any impact,” he added.

“A convicted criminal will address the APC, who has refused to present himself before the court,” Faraz said, referring to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose arrest warrants have been issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Al-Azizia case.

Faraz said the opposition was trying to spread hopelessness and saying from day one that the government had failed. He said the opposition wanted to rule the country to protect its illegal wealth and properties but the result of the APC would be zero.

“A person, who was a convict, will make a speech through video link in the APC,” Shibli said, adding the opposition was trying to put pressure on the government to get relief in corruption cases.

Shibli said Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that he was ready to sit with the opposition on any issue but he would not compromise on corruption. He said the government had achieved successes, revived the economy, exports and remittances were increasing and economic indicators were improving.

The government overcame the issue of coronavirus and then revived the economy -- a feat not accomplished by any other government in the world, the minister added.

Shibli said the government negotiated with power producer companies to provide cheap electricity and gas to the people. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan announced incentives for the construction sector and the government would fulfill its promise to build five million houses by the time it would complete its term. He said Nawaz Sharif destroyed the country and brought the economy on the verge of bankruptcy from within while Altaf Hussain damaged the country while sitting abroad.

The PTI government was transparent and committed and working for the development of the country, the minister added.

To a question, he said regional newspapers were nursery for journalism, adding, "We will request the governments of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to facilitate regional newspapers within the set parameters."

Addressing the news conference, SAPM Shehzad Akbar said the participants of the APC -- including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Zardari and Ahsan Iqbal -- were accused while Nawaz Sharif was a convict.

The agenda of the APC was that the opposition wanted change in NAB laws and was seeking powers to appoint judges of its own choosing, he explained.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and other "legal options" would be used if Nawaz Sharif addresses the opposition-led multiparty conference (MPC) and if his speech is aired.

In a tweet, he said: "How is it possible that a fugitive carries out political activities and gives speeches? The Sharif clan can only spew lies. They are such big liars that they also lie about [their] medical conditions."

Also, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the opposition APC would neither be able to take any big decisions nor would it opt to resign from the National Assembly.

The opposition's APC would be a flop show and an abortive exercise to waste their time as nobody could get NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) from honest and righteous Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said while talking to a private news channel.

The minister said the opposition leadership was holding the APC to protect their looted wealth and thought that the opposition would not take decision to resign from parliament or hold protest demonstrations in the country. He said the incumbent government had not created any obstacles in the way of conducting APC. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari's address to APC via video link could not make it effective, he added.

The minister said: "Tomorrow, the opposition parties would hold ABC session, not APC."

In a related development, three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif made a surprise entry into the world of Twitter in a bid to stay "connected" with Pakistanis.

Nawaz, in his first post, wrote, "Vote ko izzat do [Sanctity of vote] with an emoji of the national flag. #TwitterWelcomesNawaz Sharif soon became the top trend on Pakistani Twitter as the premier gained over 20,000 followers within an hour of joining the micro-blogging site.

ووٹ کو عزت دو 🇵🇰
NS

— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) September 19, 2020

His daughter and fellow party leader Maryam Nawaz made the announcement and shared his official handle.

Happy & privileged to announce that in order to stay connected to the people of Pakistan, MNS has decided to join Twitter. His Twitter handle is @NawazSharifMNS #TwitterWelcomesNawazSharif

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 19, 2020