MPAs spar amid terrorism blame game

PML-N, PTI trade accusations while calls for unity grow

LAHORE:

Opposition lawmakers have called for a unified national strategy to combat terrorism, urging political leaders to set aside personal and political differences. They proposed a consultative process involving all provinces, emphasising that the Pakistan Army must engage with local communities to effectively eliminate terrorism.

During the session, the treasury and opposition benches clashed over the responsibility for the rising wave of terrorism.

The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers blamed PTI's past policies, while PTI legislators countered that the current government, formed through what they termed "Form 47-based" rigged elections, had failed to deliver results.

PML-N's Raja Shoukat Aziz Bhatti suggested a crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals, arguing that those who had once been supported by Pakistan were now turning against it. In response, opposition member Ameer Khan questioned why terrorism had resurfaced after PTI's tenure, asserting that all political parties must collaborate to find a lasting solution.

Opposition's Ali Imtiaz Warraich cited the Jaffer Express attack, warning that terrorism is not just an isolated incident but a declared war by Pakistan's enemies.

He stressed the need for a joint national response.

The session took an interesting turn when Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman praised the police department's improved performance, only for PML-N lawmakers themselves to criticize the force, accusing it of corruption and demanding strict accountability.

Lawmakers, including Amjad Ali Javed, pushed for the long-delayed implementation of the Public Safety Commission to hold police officers accountable for alleged crimes, including theft, drug trade, and misconduct.

Opposition's Waqas Mahmood Maan also slammed the government's delay in announcing a wheat procurement policy.

He warned that farmers were growing increasingly anxious as the wheat harvesting season approached without any clear government plan.

In his concluding remarks, Minister Rehman defended the government's progress, arguing that while reforms take time, the PML-N leadership had successfully steered the country away from crisis. He claimed inflation was declining and pledged that the party would continue to provide relief to the people.

Following the completion of the session's agenda, Panel of Chairmen Samil Ullah Khan prorogued the Punjab Assembly session indefinitely.

Bhachar slams Sharif family over UK tax scandal

Meanwhile, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar launched a scathing attack on the Sharif family, citing reports that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son, Hassan Nawaz, has been declared a tax defaulter in the United Kingdom.

Speaking to the media, Bhachar revealed that UK authorities had fined Hassan Nawaz £5.2 million for unpaid taxes. He claimed that the Sharif family owed billions in taxes abroad, yet continued to amass wealth overseas.

"The Sharif family behaves as if the UK has no rule of law, just like Pakistan. Despite Nawaz Sharif's three terms as prime minister, he has never provided a money trail for his family's foreign assets. Hassan Nawaz's tax default is further proof of their corruption," Bhachar asserted.

According to UK government records, Hassan Nawaz failed to pay £9.4 million in taxes from April 2015 to April 2016.

Legal experts noted that despite his recent bankruptcy declaration, UK tax laws prohibit the waiver of such liabilities, meaning authorities can still pursue the full recovery of unpaid taxes and penalties.

So far, neither Hassan Nawaz nor his legal representatives have issued a statement.