LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz on Thursday asserted that he would remain CM “as long as God wills it”, vowing to continue working for the welfare and well-being of the people of the province.
Hamza expressed his views after Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the votes of defecting lawmakers will not be counted on the presidential reference on Article 63-A. Some 25 dissident PTI lawmakers’ votes were instrumental in Hamza being election as CM.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore today, Hamza Shehbaz pointed out that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) created numerous hurdles and roadblocks for him from the day he was appointed the chief executive of Punjab.
“The way these people are creating problems in Punjab, whether it is the former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema or President Arif Alvi, the way they are spreading propaganda among the public, I have decided not to waste a second in making things easier for the people,” he vowed.
The chief minister lamented that during the PTI government, Punjab “suffered an immense shortage of wheat”. “The province that gave wheat to other provinces was reeling from a shortage and even though the former government was aware about it, it decided to export wheat.”
“People had to stand in queues and wait for hours. When they became most vulnerable, the then PTI govt decided to import wheat expensive dollars,” Hamza alleged.
“But I want to tell you today that the government of Punjab is standing with its people,” he pledged, announcing a relief package for the province in which the price of a 10kg bag of wheat flour, which earlier cost Rs650, has been reduced to Rs490.
He further said, “In 36 districts of Punjab, people will be able to buy flour at this price,” adding, “We are giving a relief of Rs160 under the Rs200 billion subsidy for the province.”
The chief minister also lambasted the PTI chairman Imran Khan for “trying to divide the army”. “I want to tell you today that what Imran Khan Niazi is doing is not politics. He is spreading hatred in the name of politics,” he said.
During his address last night, the former prime minister had said that families of army personnel would also take part in his upcoming march to Islamabad to remove the “imported government that came to power through a US-backed conspiracy”.
Drawing attention to the PTI chairman’s comments, the Punjab CM demanded that the public and institutions should “immediately take notice of this”. “At a time when the economy is on the ventilator and political differences are rising, he is conspiring to divide the army,” Hamza said.
He urged people and the institutions to “keep an eye” on Imran and his tactics. “He is trying to destroy Pakistan for his ego, just like he trampled the Constitution and the law for his ego. Keep politics aside. First decide what this man is trying to do with the nation,” he added.
“Some times he targets the European Union in his statements,” he said, warning that in the upcoming days, Pakistan would have to “pay a price” for these comments.
