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Posts Tagged ‘Chief Minister Shahbaz’

Looters of national wealth responsible for poverty: Shahbaz

November 10th, 2010 | No Comments


LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that those who looted the national wealth and then transferred the same to Swiss banks were responsible for abject poverty and unemployment in the country, factors which push many to commit suicide.
He came down hard on President Zardari who he said had embarked on a visit to Paris and London at a time when millions of people had become homeless and were struggling for life because of the worst-ever floods in the countryÂ’s history.
The chief minister was addressing a ceremony organised to mark the 133rd birth anniversary of Dr Mohammad Allama Iqbal under the joint auspices of the Nazria Pakistan Trust and Tehrik-i-Pakistan Workers Trust at Alhamra Art Centre.
AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attiq Ahmed Khan, Jamaat-i-IslamiÂ’s former amir Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former foreign minister Sartaj Aziz, CPNE President Khushnood Ali Khan, Professor Dr Perveen Shaukat Ali, Dr Rafiq Ahmed, Waleed Iqbal (the poet-philosopherÂ’s grandson) and Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali were among the speakers.
NPT Chairman Majid Nizami and Col Jamshed Tareen were present, but they did not address, probably to allow more time to other speakers.
The hall was packed to capacity and the participants raised slogans during the speeches of some speakers, at times annoying them.
Mian Shahbaz SharifÂ’s speech was mainly a response to CPNE President Khushnood Ali KhanÂ’s address during which he had pointed out a case of suicide in the provincial metropolis because of non-availability of food, and skyrocketing sugar prices, holding the chief minister responsible for all problems of the people, as should be the case in an Islamic state.
The chief minister admitted that people were facing a number of problems, but at the same time made it clear that he was doing his best to mitigate their sufferings. He said no one should forget that corrupt practices by some people on the top had created a situation that the common man was not getting the kind of facilities he was entitled to.
Without naming former federal minister Habibullah Warraich, now under arrest, the chief minister said he had committed an irregularity of billions of rupees.
He recalled that he was mercilessly criticised by ‘musketeers’ whenever he tried to help out the flood victims, some of whom had been left with nowhere to go after the floods swept away whatever kind of houses they had.
He held the federal government responsible for the increase in the sugar prices, and said had the sweetener been imported in May, as advised by him through half a dozen letters to the prime minister, the price would not have gone beyond Rs 57 a kg.
He said he was the one who had opposed the governmentÂ’s plan to impose duty on the imported sugar, as such a step would have blighted the lives of common man. He said since he himself owned a sugar mill, aversion to import duty was against his personal business interest. However, he preferred to save the poor.
Corruption, the chief minister said, was responsible for most of the problems.
He said he was willing to reject power a thousand times, if the situation was to go on unchanged.
The chief minister recalled that he had restored the facility of free dialysis in government hospitals and set up a Rs 6 billion Punjab Education Endowment Fund to help the poor students continue their higher studies.
He said the enemies were trying to create confusion and chaos in the country, a conspiracy that could be frustrated through national unity.

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Punjab raises alarm bells as queues grow

September 19th, 2010 | No Comments


LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has written a letter to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, strongly protesting interruption in the fuel supply to the country’s biggest province and urging him to have the matter probed.
The letter pointed out as the situation about fuel shortage worsened deplorably on Sunday so the Chief Minister had no option but to ask the federal government to take measures to make the fuel available to consumers.
The CM conveyed his concern to the PM over the serious shortage of petrol in the province, underscoring the need for solving this problem without any delay.
It was stressed that due to suspension of petrol supply to various cities of Punjab, people are facing serious hardships, and daily life and business activities have virtually come to a grinding halt.
The CM said as the Punjab government could not remain silent over the shortage of petrol, therefore, it decided to raise this issue at every level.
Shahbaz said poor people whose life has already become miserable in the context of inflated rates of electricity and gas are being impelled to buy petrol at exorbitant price.
Meanwhile, the fuel situation in Lahore and other Punjab cities showed no sign of improvement even on the sixth consecutive day, as motorists were constrained to queuing up for the commodity on Sunday. The shortage of the fuel continued in most parts of the provincial capital, with a limited petrol stations providing the fuel in a very scarce amount.
Consequently, the hapless motorists gathered around the selected PSO pumps where limited stock of the fuel was available while other companiesÂ’ filling stations including Shell, Caltex and Total also ran out of stocks.
A motorist observed that the persistent petroleum shortage in the wake of unprecedented floods in the country, is forcing them to wait in long queues for a long time to procure the fuel.
It is to be mentioned here that majority of the petrol stations in Lahore have exhausted their reserves and were closed down. Several cities, including Faisalabad, Quetta, Sahiwal, Okara, Pattoki, Sheikhupura, Multan, Vehari, Mailsi, Khanewal and Khangarh were reportedly facing this shortage for the last one week, where the stocks of the fuel came to an end now and most of the petrol pumps were shut down.
In Lahore, due to acute shortage, petrol pumps, in most parts of the City, have stopped the fuel sale, however, very few stations are providing petrol but in a very little amount.

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Progress possible sans foreign aid: CM

March 20th, 2010 | No Comments


LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has underscored the need for introducing such a system in the country which could ensure equal rights to the people without discrimination of caste, colour and creed as well as equitable distribution of resources. He said if the complicated issue of National Finance Commission Award could be resolved amicably why inter-provincial disputes could not be settled with the same spirit. According to him, the lost glory of the country can be regained if we devote ourselves for the service of humanity selflessly, and work hard honestly for cause of the country.
He stated this while addressing 22nd Gold Medals Distribution Ceremony of Nazria Pakistan Trust and Tehrik-e-Pakistan Workers Trust to the Pakistan Movement workers at Aiwan-e-Karkunan-e-Tehrik-e- Pakistan. Chairman Nazria Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami, Federal Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies and workers of Pakistan Movement from all over the country were present.
The Chief Minister said Pakistan is passing through a critical phase of its chequered history wherein we are facing problems of terrorism and extremism. Without eliminating the menace of terrorism, neither peace could be maintained nor can investment be geared in the country, he added.
He said in addition to perpetrating atrocities, Musharraf regime was responsible for unleashing poverty, unemployment, ignorance, injustice and inequitable distribution of national wealth which remain now the main causes of terrorism. He said if we continued taking dictation from aliens, God forbid, QuaidÂ’s Pakistan would lose its real identity.
He said if we are determined to put the country on the road to progress and get rid of foreign aid, only then we desist foreign pressure and proudly take a stand vis-a-vis our policies for safeguarding national interests. He maintained that at present India is not ready for meaningful dialogue with Pakistan and the water issue is becoming a serious problem of the country. In such a situation, we will have to forge unity and solidarity in our ranks to resolve these issues.
He said people of NWFP are fighting the war of countryÂ’s survival and rewriting the history by making unprecedented sacrifices with their blood and there is no service greater than it. According to him, Pakistan is rich in resources and the nation is hardworking and it has imbibed the spirit of honesty to build a new Pakistan. Pakistanis are competent enough to do as they have already achieved a commendable place abroad by the their hard work, he added.
Shahbaz Sharif said under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan was created after invaluable sacrifices so that every citizen has equal rights and can lead life in accordance with the Islamic teachings. He said despite lapse of 63 years, we failed to make Pakistan an Islamic, democratic and welfare state in accordance with the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
The Pakistani elite is different from the poor Pakistanis. The land grabbers are usurping the rights of the poor people while the poor are running pillar to post for justice. We should have reviewed this situation much earlier and given respect to the people whose forefathers made sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan.
He said it is a great honour for him to participate in the ceremony, adding that because of the sacrifices of these workers we got freedom from Hindus and the British. He said that we have not implemented in letter and spirit the real notion of the sacrifices made by these workers, but are enjoying the fruits of freedom as a result of their struggle.
Chairman Nazria-e-Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami while addressing the ceremony said Pakistan came into being under Two-Nation Theory. He stressed the need for including Two-Nation Theory in the curriculum so that youth of the country could imbibe the spirit of the sacrifices, made for the establishment of Pakistan. He said India never accepted the partition of sub-continent whole-heartedly and even today it is hell-bent upon converting Pakistan into a desert and is constructing dams on the rivers coming from Kashmir but we are silently seeing this to happen.
We are an atomic power and we should prevent India by force not to do so. He regretted the fact that Mian Nawaz Sharif has removed all Muslim League office bearers. Bacha Khan was against Pakistan but the Muslim League is having sympathy for the ANP which is not accepted for Muslim Leaguers. The renaming of NWFP as Pakhtoonkhawa Abaseen would be a treason against Pakistan.
He urged Shahbaz Sharif to tell Nawaz Sharif not to change the name of Sarhad as it mount to accepting Pakhtoonkhwah. Let Pakistan remain Pakistan and do not amend it with Pakhtoonkhawa. He said the issue of unification of Muslim League often perturbs him. It must unite and it can only bring out the country from crisis. He said PML-N and PML-Q should forget their differences. Nawaz Sharif used to stay at the residence of Ch Shujaat. Why had he been staying there if he was so bad, he added. Majid Nizami said: Let Nawaz Sharif make friendship with younger brothers of Ch Shujaat for the greater interest of the country.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Chairman Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami gave away gold medals to workers of Pakistan Movement. Workers who were given gold medals also spoke on this occasion included Malik Barkat Ali, Syed Ghulam Muhammad Shah, Ch Muhammad Hussain Chattha, Rai Shahadat Khan, Syed Naubahar Shah, Sheikh Fazal Haq Peracha, Ch Ghulam Rasool Tarar, Raja Sarfraz Ali Khan, Sardar Nasrullah Khan Jatoi, Mahar Muhammad Khan Kathia, Ch Atta Muhammad, Mian Ghulam Jillani Gormani, Abdul Ghafoor, Nasim Hijazi, Syed Fasih Iqbal, Ch Muhammad Ashraf Khan, M.K.Anwar Baghdadi, Pir Sofi Muhammad Abdullah Khan, Nadeem Niazi, Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad, Abdul Aziz Khan Niazi, Sheikh Muhammad Hussain (late), Haji Abdul Aziz (late), Muhammad Azeem Khan, Ch Zafarullah Khan, Haji Abdul Latif Ansari, Qazi Muhammad Zakiuddin (late), Ch Abdul Haq (late), Rana Abdul Waheed (Alig), Agha Sher Nawab Khan Durrani (late), Ch Muhammad Ali (late), Maualana Muhammad Bashir Kotli, Brig (retd) Saadullah Khan, Anwar Hussain Qadri, Qazi Moeenuddin Ahmad, Dr SAH Akhtar, Cap (retd) Inayatullah, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi, Ch Sardar Khan Baghori, Haji Baba Abdul Karim Khan, Babu Muhammad Iqbal Butt (late), Aljaj Shamimuddin, Muhammad Usman Hashmi, Brig (retd) Qamarul Islam Khan, Syed Mohayudding Qadri Moheet, Prof Shariful Mujahid, Prof Husnain Kazmi, Wazirzada Gull Muhammad Khan, Dr M.A.Sufi, Sardar Abdul Aziz Bungesh (late), Amaduddin Ansari, Prof Dr Inamul Haq, Muhammad Afzal Bari, Mian Muhammad Mazoor Ali, Sardar Ahmad Ali, Altaf Hussain, Mohtarma Razaullah Begum, Mohtarma Begum Umatul Aziz, Mohtarma Begum Anjuman Ara, Mohtarma A.T.Sadi, Syed Hassan Riaz, Justice Hamoodur Rahman, Hamidul Haq Chaudhry, Nawab Siddiqui Ali Khan, Abdul Rahman Siddiqui, Master Abdul Hafiz, Abdul Alool Khan, Maulana Abdul Qaddus Behari, and Dr Abdul Mutlaq.
Earlier, Chairman Tehrik-e-Pakistan Workers Trust Col (r) Jamshed Tarin in his welcome address said that the measures adopted by CM Punjab for the welfare and health of workers. He praised Majid Nizami for his untiring efforts towards the welfare of Pakistan movement workers. He congratulated Majid Nizami on the 70th anniversary of Nawa-i-Waqt. He said the gold medallists had become staunch supporters of Quaid-e-Azam in the time of trial, which led to creation of Pakistan. He hoped that the new generation will follow their footprints and make Pakistan strong.
NPT Trustee Farooq Altaf presented his report. He said we have to follow the Quaid if we want to save Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Jatoi said Nazria Pakistan was alive. Negation of this nazria damaged Pakistan. He said those who sided with the British now sided with the dictators. He defined nazria as Islamic, democratic welfare state.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Mian Afzal Hayat felicitated Majid Nizami for giving awards to the workers and also for enriching the souls of young generation with Nazria Pakistan.

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Snatch loan money from defaulters: CM

December 25th, 2009 | No Comments


LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Quaid-i-Azam wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic, democratic and welfare state but we did not come up to his expectations. He called upon the government to arrange recovery of Rs 193 billion written-off loans from the defaulters and utilise this amount in the development works.
He was addressing a special function organised by Nazria Pakistan Trust in collaboration with Tehrik-e-Pakistan Workers Trust at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan on the 133rd birth anniversary of the Quaid. NPT Chairman and Editor-in-Chief The Nation Majid Nizami presided over the function. Shahbaz said Pakistan would not have appeared on the world map had there been no Quaid-i-Azam. He said a nation that resorted to self-accountability never failed. The objective of the creation of Pakistan was to provide equal economic opportunities to all. The Quaid never wanted the poor to die of hunger and poverty, he added. He said no dictator could dare to occupy power by force if we had followed the path shown by the Quaid. Our failures are many while successes are only a few during the past 63 years. However, he expressed his optimism that the dark days are likely to decline soon. The nation has heard two good news; one the amicable NFC Award and the other the Supreme Court verdict against NRO.
NFC Award is the second important document after 1973 Constitution for which he congratulated the people of Punjab for showing the sacrifice spirit for the smaller provinces. He said the verdict against NRO has established that the nation did not want corrupt practices. It could have been a scar on the face of Parliament if it had approved the NRO, he said and added there is no conflict on NRO among government institutions. The list of written-off loans has been presented to the Supreme Court and if loans are received with fines, it will be equal to Rs 3-4 billion to be spent on people. Shahbaz warned there would be a conflict between the rich and the poor if we did not use the resources judiciously. The revolution is sure to come if we allow a particular class to possess the national wealth and resources, and the children of the poor would continue to suffer for lack of treatment. He said no nation could prosper on foreign aid nor could it survive.
Shahbaz said that we should reiterate our pledge to snatch the loan money from the plunderers and spend it on the poor. We have to get rid of the people who were showing fake documents on TV channels in their favour. He pleaded for identifying these persons. He extended congratulations to the Supreme Court on his own behalf and on behalf of his party, the government and people of Punjab. He said all the accused involved in the Bank of Punjab scam were arrested except Hamesh Khan who had absconded abroad, and a judge of LHC Bilal Khan helped him to escape.
ShahbazÂ’s speech was punctuated with slogans seeking return of the looted money. At this stage, Shahbaz presented a resolution to the NPT Vice-Chairman duly approved by the House to send it to the Supreme Court to bind the government for recovery of loans with fine and to allocate the amount for public welfare.
Shahbaz paid rich tributes to Majid Nizami and Nawa-i-Waqt Group for upholding the truth and working for the solidarity of Pakistan. The future historian will pay him due respect for the ideological training of new generation, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Majid Nizami stressed the people to value freedom. He said, “Pakistan is an atomic country and if we were not a free nation, we would have become slaves to Hindus. Hindus never accepted our independence. India is not a secular country rather it is an enemy of Pakistan. We should remain alert and remain in a state of preparedness against India. India is building dams on our rivers to turn Pakistan into a desert. Our rulers should impress upon India not to build dams otherwise we will smash these dams with bombs.” He said the Quaid wanted to make Pakistan a state for experimenting Islam but we are turning it into a secular state. We should repent and seek forgiveness of Allah for this sin, he added.
Vice-Chairman of NPT Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad said Quaid-i-Azam not only gave us freedom but a vision. The Quaid gave priority to education and the first conference he chaired was on education. He said the Quaid also wanted promotion of technical education and promotion of good values. He praised the ‘Danish’ school systems of Punjab Government.
Grandson of Allama Iqbal, Advocate Waleed Iqbal said the Quaid wanted democratic culture. He said we should follow the Constitution and forge unity as ordained by the Quaid. Brig (r) Zafar Iqbal Ch said the Quaid-i-Azam spent life practising honesty and never allowed corruption. He said unfortunately a political upheaval has been initiated as the Supreme Court ordered for bringing back looted money.
Syed Ahmad Saeed Kirmani said Pakistan would survive through all odds.
NPT Secretary Shahid Rashid thanked the guests and said the NPT is working day and night for the promotion of Pakistan ideology. The meeting was attended by people from all walks of life. Shahid Rashid conducted the meeting, announcing that next meeting would be held at Aiwan-e-Nazria Pakistan. He also thanked Punjab CM for his grant of Rs1 million for Pakistan Movement workers.

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