Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said instead of appreciating PML-N government’s ‘landmark achievements’ in the fields of economy and education, the judiciary has held the entire country hostage by ‘turning a non-issue into an issue’. Talking to media after addressing a project award ceremony at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the minister said that there were few negative elements that were trying to halt the process of country’s development and fanning conflicts in the country.

“The purchase of only two flats in London is being generalised and used as a tool to detract the entire democratic system,” he said. “The objective of entire drama is nothing else but to weaken the country’s economy,” he said, in reference to the ongoing trial of Sharif family over offshore assets revealed by Panama Papers.

The minister said there were political motives behind Panama Papers case. He said the prime minister had set a precedent by presenting himself and his family for accountability. Contrary to it, he said, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was running from accountability and busy only in ridiculing the constitutional institutions of the country.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government had made historic investment in energy sector of the country. He said there was not a single case of corruption against the government as it believed in transparency and merit. He said that the government was striving for the betterment of education sector and several measures had been adopted in this regard.

Published in Daily Times, July 6^th , 2017.