PM Kakar leaves Nawaz arrest decision to LEAs

ISLAMABAD:

A day after former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif announced that his elder brother would be ending his exile in October, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Wednesday said that the decision to handcuff PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif upon his return to the country lied within the purview of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), which would make the decision according to the law.

Talking to a private news channel, PM Kakar said: “The law enforcement agencies will decide this matter in light of the law. If they think he should be chained, they will adopt that path and vice versa.”

He said it was the discretion that the LEAs exercised, hoping that they would do it to the “best of their ability”.

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To a question regarding growing apprehensions about a likely scenario of Nawaz being arrested upon his return, the interim premier said it was not a challenge for him as it was not up to him to decide whether the PML-N supreme leader should be behind bars or move freely according to his wishes.

Kakar said, “I reiterate that the legal and law enforcement agencies leadership is present. Whatever they decide, whether they send Nawaz behind bars or allow freedom of movement, it will be the decision of the leadership of the judicial process and law enforcement.”

He said the federal government could only intervene in the matter if it felt that the two entities were defying the law.

Nawaz, who is expected to return on Oct 21, was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption references in 2018. The cases are still subjudice.

The PML-N supremo had left the country in Nov 2019 after the Islamabad High Court granted him temporary relief on medical grounds in the Al Azizia reference. However, he did not return.

In Feb 2020, the then Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had declared him an absconder and later in the same year, an accountability court declared him a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles reference.

Kakar visits G-B

Prime Minister Kakar on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to formulate a strategy to reconstruct and improve the communication infrastructure of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The prime minister, in a meeting with socio-political leaders of Hunza and visit to Hunar Kohn project of Karakorum Area Development Organisation (Kado), assured early resolution of electricity-related issues faced by the region.

The delegation apprised the PM of the grievances, including issues pertaining to demand and supply of electricity and the allocation of additional seats for Hunza in the G-B Assembly in proportion to the population.

The prime minister instructed for formulation of a strategy for electricity generation in coordination with the power sector.

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The G-B political leadership briefed PM Kakar about the challenges confronting the tourism sector, requesting him to order establishment of aerial connectivity with different parts of the region.

PM Kakar directed G-B Chief Secretary to utilise all-out resources for early resolution of the issues.

He also visited the digital hub at Kado's Hunar Kohn project and rehabilitation centre for special persons.

He lauded Kados services for the welfare of local population.

PM Kakar, while interacting with the freelance students of Hunar Kohn project, said the passion of G-B youth for development was commendable.

Socio-political leaders, including former G-B governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, ex-member of G-B Assembly Rani Attiqa, members of the assembly Col (retd) Ubaidullah Baig and Dilshad Bano attended the meeting.

(With input from APP)