Daily Times

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan Saturday said it seems that the health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has suddenly improved after leaving the country.

Addressing media in Sialkot, Dr Firdous questioned the lack of information by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after Nawaz Sharif travelled to London for treatment. She said it has been several days since former prime minister travelled to London for treatment but there hasn’t been a single report on his health. She noted that the PML-N leaders and activists repeatedly stated that the former prime minister’s condition is critical, but have been unable to inform the public about any recent health developments. “Nawaz Sharif’s illness is linked to the palace, he arrives at the palace and recovers,” she said, adding that the former prime minister has a ‘political illness’. “We know full well the true nature of his illness and their (the Sharif family’s) associated agenda,” she said.

“The health of Nawaz Sharif is linked to his palace. His health deteriorates whenever he goes to jail,” the special assistant to the prime minister said, and questioned why the doctors abroad had not issued any sort of advisory over his treatment. “The people of Pakistan, who were so closely following his health condition, wish to have more news from him. So does the media,” she said.

While declaring that the truth can never be hidden, she reminded the people of the former prime minister’s words for his ‘beloved’ country. “The former prime minister with his sleeves rolled up had been seen going to every village in the country and declaring ‘I will not only respect the vote while living here in Pakistan but I also dedicate my entire life and death to this country’.”

Besides political issues, Awan also answered questions about the affairs of the PTI government, assuring reporters that the government will soon launch a crackdown against hoarders and profiteers in order to check the price hike. She said the governance system of provincial governments will be improved to achieve the desired objective, and the role of middle man is being eliminated to check the price hike. She expressed the government’s commitment to extend facilities to the rural population that are available to those in the urban centres.

She said the government is currently facing two challenges, unemployment and inflation, which can only be resolved by wealth creation and job opportunities. She also reiterated the prime minister’s priority to provide relief to the masses and to promote industrial activity in the country.