By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party central leader and former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that no single leader or institution can run the country.
This country does not belong to any one but to all of us. We have to save it from neo-nationalism. Punjab Chief Minister should consider his tone, you are not just the CM. You are also the daughter of Nawaz Sharif and the niece of Shehbaz Sharif, you say that you will not let anyone speak. This tone is in no way appropriate, reconsider it.
He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at the People’s Secretariat Model Town along with Usman Malik, Chaudhry Aslam Gul, Faisal Mir, Rana Jawad, Dr. Khayyam Hafeez and Imran Sarvia. A large number of party workers including Ashraf Nadeem, Dr. Khalid Javed Jan, Sadaqat Sherwani, Masood Malik, Imran Khokhar, Dr. Waseem Sial, Mian Atiq were present on the occasion. Qamar Zaman Kaira said that we supported this government without taking a share in power, the current situation in the country In view of the situation, we did not want to worsen it, we supported the government in all crises including legislation without any favor, but this does not mean that the PML-N has been given a blank check.
On one side is the PPP and on the other is the Punjab government. They may not want support in Punjab, but we want the bitterness of the past to be forgotten. I ask my colleagues and the Punjab government to give their opinions with evidence, do not use the tone that was used in the past. The former Federal Information Minister said that the floods have caused a lot of valuable losses. The entire country is of one language. We will tell you where we are wrong and will also protest against it.
He said that when we give our opinions or criticize, you talk about breaking your fingers. The question is about the method of dealing with the flood. In response, the Sindh government is targeted. Some objections were very painful, including criticism of electricity subsidy.
He said that international organizations do not respond to anyone’s telephone calls or complaints. The PPP has not even given a line to the IMF. If it is written, I am responsible. Where did the talk of water distribution and electricity subsidy come from in this? The question is that the PPP supported you everywhere in this flood. The central leader of the PPP said that the recent flood is not the fault of this government but of the West. We are not begging, we are demanding our rights from them. BISP has become a cause of controversy at the moment. Its cash grant provides immediate relief and this used to happen before. If you do not use BISP, it is okay. However, the Benazir Income Support Program is at the first place in transparency. That is why the IMF has increased the budget by Rs 200 billion in this year. We are raising objections to the aid mechanism. If we suggest anything, it is said that we have pointed a finger at Punjab and this criticism is called an attack on Punjab. Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the difference should be kept to the extent that it is, you are a woman and our sister and a woman is our leader. You should consider your tone, he said. That slogans were raised against Punjab in this country before. What do you want to do by playing neo-nationalism, I have been a Punjabi for 20 generations. These things are not appropriate from where you are sitting, your slogan will strengthen neo-nationalism, should everyone else leave Punjab and leave, do not try to eliminate the rights of the rest, your words should be to strengthen the federation.
The former federal minister said that you said that 5 million people were affected and there are 5 people per household, so this amount becomes one thousand billion rupees, so will you stop the remaining and ongoing development programs? He clearly said that who said to beg, if we have been destroyed because of the West and they ask for help, then are we begging, we are not saying to beg from countries, we are asking for help from the United Nations, the Prime Minister has talked about environmental change in all his visits.
Where did the begging come from? Qamar Zaman Kaira said that all the provinces should be given national financial awards. I do not get money according to population, Punjab has given money to KP, FATA and Balochistan from its award. He asked the Punjab government that the money for the 90,000 houses you are building should also be returned, the Sindh government has already given 600,000 houses out of 21 to the affected people. It was said that we started green buses, what did you do? Remember, the Sindh government was the first to bring electric buses. The central leader of the People’s Party said that we were talking about floods, you rushed to Sindh, the Punjab government should send its spokesperson with me, we will show what progress has been made in Sindh. If the Chief Minister of Punjab says something, its meaning will be different. Qanur Zaman Kaira further said that you are building heart hospitals in Punjab. May Allah make ten more, pay a little more attention to these hospitals.
Liver and kidney patients who go there have to pay fees or expenses except for health cards. In Punjab, liver transplant and heart patients are given six months. Yes, the whole world recognizes NICVD where stunts, batteries, tests are free, this is not only for the residents of Sindh but for the whole of Pakistan. The Sindh government is providing free treatment in Gambat, Sukkur, Karachi. He said that I am not the spokesperson of the Sindh government, but we were blamed for helping the flood victims. In 2012, the first one was installed in JPMC Karachi, in 2024 the third one and now the fourth one has been installed. I do not advise, I advise that they should pay attention to their hospitals. On this occasion, he read a poem by revolutionary poet Habib Jalib that “I think they are losing the road, I believe they are losing the destination.” In response to media questions, he said that we have provided flood relief.He said that we gave our opinion on the flood relief mechanism, which started a discussion. No party or individual wants to spread mischief. He emphasized that democracy will not flourish without activating local governments. On another question, he said that there is a formula for water distribution and the issue of water should be discussed by the center and the provinces in the Common Interest Council. The PPP has been blamed for the issue of canals. If Maryam Nawaz follows Benazir Bhutto, it is a very good thing. On the question of the future of Palestine, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that oppression is being done to Palestinian Muslims, the government did not decide on Palestine alone.
Eight Islamic countries consulted. The first party is the Palestinians. They should be taken into confidence. The matter will move forward with the opinion of the representative organizations of Palestine.
