LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that rule of law should be accepted by all because supremacy of the constitution and law are portrayal of civilised societies. Whether it’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or any other institution, justice and accountability should be held across-the-board and if it’s not done so, then the same may not be termed justice or accountability. “We have saved Rs 70 billion in Orange Line Metro Train project. It is the prerogative of NAB to dig out corruption but it should also speak up about this nation’s billions of rupees saved by us. NAB may not certify us but it should pay tributes to the people of Punjab who have chosen such a government that has broken the 70 years deadlock and conducted G2G tendering,” he added. Talking to media after the inauguration of surgical tower at Mayo Hospital on Friday, the chief minister said that the surgical tower contains 16 operation theatres along with a 100-bedded burn unit where patients will be examined through the most modern machine. Similarly, CT scan, MRI and ultrasound machines are installed in investigative departments. “I visited this tower a few months ago and today, it has been formally inaugurated,” he added. “A new world of facilities is provided and this can be compared with Aga Khan Hospital. However, a hospital of such standards is not available in the public sector and the efforts of Provincial Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, Health Secretary Najam Shah, chief secretary, King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Ibrar Ashraf and his team are praiseworthy in this regard.” He also announced a prize of Rs 1,000,000 for KEMC VC Dr Ibrar Ashraf and his team and also recommended a medal for him. Replying to different questions from the media, Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif said that this latest hospital had been established by the Punjab government with its own resources. “We have made a wonderful hospital in Swat after floods and modern hospitals have also been established in Punjab having all the latest medical facilities. Multan Kidney Centre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital Muzaffargarh, Pakistan Kidney, Liver Institute & Research Centre and a latest hospital in Okara are important milestones of our performance,” he said. To another question, the CM said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan leveled allegations against him with regard to Chinese company Yabaite in Multan Metro Bus Project. “I request NAB chairman to tell the reality of this claim to the nation. If I am accused then I should be barred from the elections. If I am not a criminal, then the one who leveled allegations should have to be held accountable,” he added. Provincial ministers, assembly members, administrative secretaries and others attended the ceremony. Sharif strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian army at working boundary of Sialkot. He expressed deep sense of sorrow over martyrdom of a woman and three children and extended sympathies to the heirs. He said that firing at the civilian population by Indian army is blatant violation of human rights adding that Indian army’s violations at line of control and working boundary have crossed all limits. “Pak army has the fullest capability to give a befitting reply to every provocation and India should not remain in any misunderstanding about it. The whole nation is siding with the Pak army like a solid rock,” concluded the CM. Published in Daily Times, May 19th 2018.