ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar on Wednesday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had conspired against Pakistan by providing false narratives to the European Union.
“PTI spokesmen are being instructed from jail to harm the country but no one will be allowed to harm the economy,” he said at his first press conference after taking over as Information and Broadcasting Minister here.
Hitting out at the PTI leadership, the minister said its conspiratorial elements are again trying to attack the country’s leadership
as in the past, PTI did a heinous act by writing a letter to the International Monetary Fund asking it not to enter into a loan agreement with the Government of Pakistan.
He said PTI spokesmen were receiving instructions from Adiala jail to harm Pakistan.
Tarar claimed that the founder of PTI tried to make this country bankrupt but with the grace of Allah and Shehbaz Sharif’s personal interest, Pakistan made a deal with the IMF.
Now he again said that the PTI leadership wants to sabotage the IMF deal through another letter.
He asked in what capacity he was writing this letter to the IMF.
“Protecting Pakistan’s state and national interests is our first responsibility. Strategies and steps are being taken to revive the economy,” Tarar asserted.
The minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif worked day and night to improve the economy and chaired only three to four meetings on the economy daily.
He said the prime minister was working to end inflation and unemployment in the country.
The minister said that on the other hand, there is a political party that has no self-interest and does not care about the national interests or the integrity of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan could earn valuable foreign exchange if the GSP plus status from the EU continued, it would help create more employment opportunities and strengthen the rupee as a currency.
“If Pakistan gets GSP plus status, foreign exchange will come, our exports will increase, rupee will become stable, inflation will come down and employment opportunities will be provided,” noted Ataullah Tarar.
At the beginning of his press conference, he assured that he would try his best to take measures for the welfare of media workers and journalists.
“The doors of the Ministry of Information are open to journalists and they will try to play the role of a bridge between the government and the media,” he added.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had started working on a strategy to deal with the challenges facing the economy as soon as he assumed office.
He said he was honored that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was mentioned yesterday by Bloomberg magazine regarding his potential to improve Pakistan’s economy.
The minister said that Bloomberg also called the choice of Muhammad Aurangzeb as the finance minister as the best choice, who has extensive experience as an economist at the global level.
Tarar said Bloomberg also mentioned the prime minister’s policies to revive the economy.
Answering a question, he said that these elements are contacting the European Union and asking them to cancel the GSP plus status, which amounted to a conspiracy and a shameful attempt to make the poor people of Pakistan suffer.
To another question, he said that Imran Khan lived a lavish life in jail, adding that the PTI founder was given not just a room but the entire gallery for a walk.
According to the 1978 prison manual, each prisoner was allowed one meeting in a week, but the PTI founder chairman was allowed four meetings in a week, he added.
The minister said one meeting was with lawyers, one with friends, one with political associates and one with family members.
Since Imran Khan was in jail, he has met hundreds of people, the minister informed.
In addition, he said, Imran was given exercise equipment in prison.
He told PTI that these were the people who attacked and destroyed the martyrs’ memorials and ransacked the residence of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Lahore on May 9.
He said that PTI hatched a cipher conspiracy and tried to spoil the relations with Pakistan all over the world. Attempts were now being made to threaten the country’s economy through a campaign based on lies, he noted.
To a question, he said the meetings banned on the basis of reports of sabotage near Adiala Jail and security audit of Adial, Mianwali and DG Khan Jails was being conducted.
The minister said that the facility available to the PTI founder in jail has not been provided to any other politician so far.
In view of the fear of sabotage inside some jails, the Punjab government has issued a letter temporarily banning meetings.
The minister said that it is the responsibility of the Punjab government to conduct the security audit and it is the responsibility of the prison authorities and the concerned government to ensure the safety of all
prisoners, including Imran Khan.
He said that Adiala Jail is an affiliated department of Punjab Home Department and all the rules and regulations are mentioned in the jail manual.
Tarar said PTI had conspired against Pakistan by providing false narratives to the EU and attacked Pakistan’s GSP Plus status by using the pretext of providing facilities to the party’s founder chairman.APP
