Ex-generals not loyal to their institution: Maryam

PML-N vice president says govt can’t be overthrown through ‘bullying’

ISLAMABAD:

Referring to the veterans of the armed forces who called for the dismissal of the assemblies, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said retired generals were not loyal to their institution, and challenged them to return their medals if they were interested in politics.

Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), she said that the incumbent government was trying to complete its term, adding that the media should criticise the one “who made things worse”.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cares about the nation and is working day and night to improve the country’s economy,” she said, adding that the premier’s entire focus was on public relief.

Commenting on the excessive electricity outages being faced by the people across the country, Maryam said when her party formed the government in 2013, the country was witnessing 23 hours of power cuts. “Had there not been [Maryam’s father and former premier] Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz, power outages would not have ended,” she added.

“No one tried to end the electricity outages, nobody set up power plants,” she said while referring to the term of the previous PTI government.

Read Maryam asks SC to steer clear of Imran's politics

She added that the demand for electricity was increasing with each passing day and PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan had shut down the power plants set up by Nawaz.

She alleged that factories were being shut down because of Imran’s “incompetence”.

However, Maryam said, 5,000MW would soon be added to the system. “We are not crying, but planning.”

She added that even Imran’s own allies were “acknowledging” the issues that surfaced during his term, pointing out that former interior minister Sheikh Rashid had admitted to laying “landmines” for the future government.

The PML-N vice president said the PTI chief had taken the country to the intensive care unit (ICU), and plunged it into darkness. She added that the PML-N would clear the landmines laid by the former premier.

On the foreign policy of the previous government, she said that it led to deteriorating relations with friendly countries.

Commenting on the coalition government’s economic decisions, she said that with the increase in prices of petroleum products, a relief package of Rs28 billion was also given to the people. She added that wheat flour was made cheaper, and Hajj was made less costly for the convenience of the people.

The PML-N vice president said that if her party was unable to give relief to the people, then nobody could.

She added that the government could not be overthrown by “bullying”.

She further said that it was not good to drag institutions into politics.

On a question about the government empowering the country’s premier intelligence agency to vet civil servants, she said the premier knew better how to use the resources at his disposal.

She quipped that the name of Bani Gala should be “Money Gala”. She added that the former first lady was given a diamond of five carats for “opening a lock”.

 “You should wear diamonds in all your fingers but not with the money belonging to the people. Buy and wear diamonds with your halal money.”

She added that question should be asked of those who had handed over a whole province to Farah Gogi, a close friend of ex-PM Imran’s wife.

Maryam also expressed her sorrow over the demise of MNA Aamir Liaquat and prayed for his soul.

She expressed her condolences to the heirs of the late lawmaker.