Nawaz enjoying perks as former PM: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday said that PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif was enjoying the perks and privileges permissible to former prime ministers.

Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a seminar here on Sunday had claimed that he was not availing privileges offered to him as former prime minister.

Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Kaira said that the PML-N chief could not stand in front of former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf and escaped abroad.

Responding to a question he said, the Federal Government had nothing to do with the delay in flight of Mian Nawaz Sharif.Nawaz Sharif's party was ruling the entire Punjab province, he added.

Kaira said that the mentor of Nawaz Sharif General Ziaul Haqhad befooled the people by riding a bicycle.

Pakistan Peoples Party, he said, would not repeat the unhealthy behaviour like that of PML-N in the forthcoming budget session of Punjab as the PPP does not resort to the politics of agitation.

He said the so-called leader of the opposition used to phone General Musharraf requesting him not to send him to jail, but instead put him under house arrest.

Responding to a question he said the PPP government would give its views on dual nationality verdict after the detailed judgement.

However, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has already categorically said that the laws should be enacted on dual nationality.

To a question he said that the Punjab Government was stealing electricity being used at the camp set up in Lahore, to protest load shedding in the province.

Kaira criticized Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif for electricity pilferage and said the protest camp was being provided power through illegal hooks.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif should have generated electricity by installing turbines on various canals across the Punjab province, the minister said.

He said the Punjab chief minister was violating rules while spending discretionary funds and development budget. The Chief Minister does not bother to take into confidence the concerned people, he added.

In response to a question he said the expenditures of Prime Minister House have been reduced and it would soon be transformed as an Institute of Advance Studies.

He said that discretionary fund of Prime Minister has also been curtailed. (APP)