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Wednesday, 8 May, 2024 I |29 Shawwal, 1445
Rs 50.00 | Vol XIV No 308 I 36 Pages I Islamabad Edition
RULING PARTY IN A SHAMBLES OVER WHEAT SCAM AS PM ‘RELUCTANT TO TAKE ACTION’ AGAINST CARETAKERS
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NAWAZ SHARIF REPORTEDLY WANTS TO INITIATE ACTION TO DEFLECT BLAME AWAY FROM HIS DAUGHTER MARYAM’S GOVERNMENT IN PUNJAB PROFIT
ABDULLAH NIAZI AND AHMAD AHMADANI
HERE is tension within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on how to handle the billion dollar wheat import scam. Over the past two days the party’s senior leadership has made decisions, taken them back, and painted a picture of complete disarray. In private, the situation is even bleaker. Mian Nawaz Sharif has publicly stated that he supports strict action against the preceding caretaker government, which is a key suspect in the wheat import scandal that has taken hold of the country’s news cycle. But it seems his younger brother the prime minister is more reluctant to involve Anwar ul Haq Kakar’s caretaker setup in any sort of federal criminal investigation, especially since the Punjab CM from the caretaker era, Mohsin Naqvi, serves as interior minister in his cabinet. The difference in approach is causing tensions within the party. Mian Nawaz is keen to hold the previous government accountable because the wheat scam is proving to be the first major challenge for his daughter Maryam’s government in Punjab. The ire of farmers over the scandal has been directed largely towards the Punjab government because of its failure to purchase the wheat from the farmers. The initial response has been heavy handed and could cause future political damage. The prime minister, the head of a weak coalition in Islamabad, is afraid of the consequences of taking on the caretakers who are thought to have been very close with the country’s establishment, according to one high ranking source within the PML-N. What does the caretaker government’s mess up have to do with the Punjab government? The origins of the wheat scam go back to an amount of 1.2 million tonnes of wheat more than what was necessary to import. Back in 2022, devastating floods ruined Pakistan’s domestic wheat production. As a result, in 2023, the government decided to import more wheat to make up for the shortfall. The shortfall was around 2.4 million tons, but the government instead allowed the
Dar confirms Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to Pakistan ‘on the cards’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s much-anticipated visit to Pakistan is on the cards, saying the final dates of his visit are expected to be received from the kingdom this month. “InshaAllah, the visit is due [and] I believe we may receive final dates [of the visit from Saudi Arabia] anytime in May,” FM Dar said while addressing the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Tuesday. His statement came a day after Geo News citing sources reported that the Saudi crown prince was expected to visit Pakistan between May 10 to 15. It would be the first visit of the Saudi crown prince, also known as MBS, to Pakistan in five years as he last time visited the country in February 2019 during the rule of former prime minister Imran Khan. “As of now, the [Saudi crown prince] visit is on the cards,” the foreign minister said while responding to a question. Recalling a Pakistan’s delegation recent meeting with the Saudi crown prince in Makkah, the deputy prime minister said Prince Salman had assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he would undertake a visit to Pakistan. The crown prince had informed PM Shehbaz in the month of Ramadan that he would visit Pakistan after initial meetings between Pakistan and Saudi officials, FM Dar said.
private sector to import 3.6 million tonnes. The accusation is that the caretaker government took kickbacks to allow this. As a result, there was an extra billion dollars tagged onto the import bill at a time when the economy was facing a dire shortage of foreign reserves. The problem was that earlier this year the chickens came home to roost, but the owner of the barn was different. The government of Pakistan and its provincial governments have a strange relationship with its farmers. Before the 18th amendment, the federal government would set the wheat support price. Now, the provincial food departments and PASSCO procure wheat in harvest months at the government’s announced price. The provincial food departments release wheat in lean months at the ‘issue price’. Until recently, issue price was the same throughout the year and now the government has introduced a cascading price mechanism to smooth out seasonal variation and cover the transaction cost. The public sector procures on average about six million tons of wheat, or nearly 24% of total production. But this year there was a surplus of wheat because the government had allowed the import of extra wheat last year. As a result, the Punjab government announced it would not be commencing or buying its regular amount of wheat. This was at a time when wheat had seen a bumper crop in Pakistan. The farmers protested, the Punjab government brought down
Saudi trade delegation’s visit significant headway in bilateral ties: PM Shehbaz ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday hailed the recent visit of a Saudi investment delegation to Islamabad as a significant milestone in strengthening the ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Chairing a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister commended the dedication of federal ministers, government officials, and staff for ensuring the success of the Saudi delegation’s visit, according to a press release issued by the PM Office. During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the positive feedback received from the Saudi business delegation regarding the preparedness and confidence exhibited by the federal ministers and government team members. He added such commendation bodes well for the future of the country. Reflecting on his interactions with the Saudi delegation during a dinner reception, the prime minister expressed immense pleasure at the unprecedented appreciation conveyed by the head of the Saudi delegation. He pledged to convene a separate meeting to personally acknowledge the efforts of cabinet members and government officials who contributed to the success of the visit. The prime minister shared that the head of the
No talks with PTI until public apology for May 9 events: ISPR ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) MajGen Ahmed Sharif on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of any ‘deal’ with the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying there won’t be any talks with “anarchists,” elaborating dialogue with the PTI could happen only if it “earnestly apologises in front of the nation”, promises to adopt “constructive politics” and forgoes “politics of anarchy”. The DG ISPR made the remarks in a lengthy press conference in Rawalpindi ahead of the anniversary of May 9, 2023 – the day when PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest sparked violent countrywide protests. Military installations and martyrs monuments came under attack during these protests, which formed the basis of a severe state crackdown on the party and its leadership. At a press conference on the eve of the first anniversary of the May 9 incident, DG ISPR Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif said that there was no doubt that the PTI was behind the May 9 riots. However, he said that yet some people were demanding the judicial commission to probe the
the lathi on the protesting farmers, and negative sentiments prevailed. The sequence of events The response from the government has left a lot to be desired. Immediately, the prime minister formed an inquiry committee. At the same time, a lot of talking heads on television and social media started bringing up how the extra import had come during the caretaker setup. Mian Nawaz immediately wanted to take strict action. “The inquiry committee was set up but the response was not strong enough for Mian Sahib’s liking,” explains one source privy to the information. As a result, Mian Nawaz called a party meeting on the 6th of May. The meeting was to be attended by Punjab’s minister of food, secretary food and other concerned officials. The elder Sharif directed that this provincial level committee would deliberate on the findings of the federal inquiry committee. It seemed that Mian Nawaz had essentially sent a message to his younger brother that he was taking charge on this particular matter. It was decided that the prime minister would present the inquiry committee’s report to Nawaz Sharif who would decide the matter pertaining to the wheat issue. Within a day, however, reports started filtering in that Nawaz Sharif had chosen to take a step back and allow the prime minister to handle the matter. Party sources claimed that Mian Nawaz decided it would be appropriate to not give any direction on the matter. However, news is now coming in that the prime minister is hesitant to take more action against the supposed culprit. Members of the Shehbaz cabinet and bureaucracy have suggested to the prime minister to address the wheat import scandal in a “better way”. In fact, after the first meeting of the fact finding committee, information minister Atta Tarar said that no one had been called or interviewed by the committee in this regard, including former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, ex-finance minister Shamshad Akhtar, and incumbent Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (ex-CM of Punjab).
events of May 9. He said the army was ready for the formation of a judicial commission but added that such an inquiry should also cover the 2014 sit-in and other related events. He denied the ‘narrative’ that May 9 was a ‘false flag operation’. During the press talk, a documentary film about May 9 was shown, in which attacks on military installations can be seen. The documentary also showed the statements of PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Shandana Gulzar and Shehryar Afridi. Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif said that a political party provoked the youth
but now “confusion” was being created by demanding a judicial commission. “We are ready… make a judicial commission. The judicial commission should also cover what the 2014 sit-in was and what its objectives were. It should also cover how the Parliament was attacked. How people were given the courage to stand against the state.” He said that the capital was attacked using the resources of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2016, adding that Islamabad was attacked again in 2022.
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Saudi delegation, acknowledging the intelligence and education of the Pakistani officials, lauded their presence, guidance, presentations, and follow-ups during the meetings. The Saudi delegation expressed satisfaction with their visit, noting a promising new chapter in Pakistan’s development. In recognition of the collective efforts, Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated the cabinet members and federal secretaries, noting that the positive feedback from the Saudi delegation brought joy not only to him but to the entire nation. During the meeting, the federal cabinet, following the Ministry of Aviation’s recommendation, approved Air Sial’s flight operations to destinations including China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and Kuwait, in line with the National Aviation Policy 2023 and Air Services Agreement. Furthermore, the cabinet endorsed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Trade Committee between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Colombia. Additionally, it approved the transfer of the Directorate General of Special Education from the Ministry of Human Rights to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The cabinet also ratified decisions regarding Chinese investment projects made in the Cabinet committee meeting held on April 30, 2024.
After clean chit to Nawaz, President Zardari gets ‘immunity’ in Toshakhana vehicle case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In view of the constitutional immunity of the head of the state, an accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday halted its proceedings against incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari in the Toshakhana vehicle reference. As proceedings of the reference began on Tuesday, counsel for President Zardari Farooq H Naik appeared before the accountability court and filed a plea seeking to halt the court’s proceedings against his client. “As per the law, Asif Zardari has presidential immunity. The case against Zardari cannot proceed as long as he remains in office,” argued the lawyer. Approving his request, accountability court judge Justice Javed Rana halted the proceedings against the president in the Toshakhana case. The development came a month after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in a written reply submitted to the accountability court in the Toshakhana vehicle reference, requested to end the criminal proceedings against President Zardari, saying that he enjoys constitutional immunity. It is pertinent to mention here that the NAB last month exonerated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the same vehicle reference. The anti-graft body, in its report, had requested an accountability court in Islamabad to acquit the former premier. The court may acquit Nawaz from the Toshakhana reference, the watchdog stated in its report submitted before the court that day, highlighting that the car in question was not a part of the Toshakhana at the time of purchase by the former prime minister. According to the anti-corruption watchdog’s findings, the Saudi government gifted a car to then-prime minister Nawaz in 1997 which he deposited in Toshakhana. Later in 2008, the report mentioned, then-PM Yusuf Raza Gilani offered the PML-N supremo to buy the same car. Therefore, Nawaz bought the car not from the Toshakhana, but from the federal transport pool, the report maintained, adding that the vehicle was not purchased using a fake bank account. What was the case? In March 2020, NAB filed the Toshakhana reference in an accountability court against the three political leaders. Khawaja Anwar Majeed and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, the owners of the Omni group were also named as suspects in the reference. According to the accountability bureau, former president Zardari and former premier Sharif obtained cars from the Toshakana by paying 15% of the price of the cars. The bureau further alleged that former premier Gilani facilitated Zardari and Nawaz in this regard. The reference filed by NAB alleges that Zardari was gifted luxury cars by the governments of Libya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and he used them instead of submitting them to the Toshakhana. The accountability watchdog claimed that former premier Nawaz was given a car from the Toshakhana by the PPP government in 2008 even though he did not hold any official position in the government. NAB had requested the court to conduct a trial and sentence the accused to the strictest possible jail terms under the NAB Ordinance for their involvement in the corruption scam. In May of the same year, the accountability court issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Nawaz after no one appeared on his behalf to represent him.