PTI's mission won't be successful until rich and poor are treated equally: Fawad Chaudhry

Published February 2, 2019
Information Minister Fawad Chauhdry addresses a gathering in Gujranwala. — DawnNewsTV
Information Minister Fawad Chauhdry addresses a gathering in Gujranwala. — DawnNewsTV

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government will not be successful in its mission until and unless the same treatment is meted out to influential political leaders in jail as is to any common man.

Chaudhry, while addressing a public gathering in Gujranwala, cited the Sharif and Rafique brothers' examples to claim that the system treats the rich and the poor differently.

The minister said that both the sets of siblings, have been afforded "VIP treatment" of such kind during their incarceration that half the country could say: "Send me to jail too".

"The bitter truth is, the law is different for the rich and the poor," Chaudhry said vowing on behalf of the party to continue the struggle against injustice. "Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's mission will not be successful until we have the same laws for everyone and the class system is abolished."

The outspoken information minister also questioned why Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif were dissatisfied with the quality of healthcare considering they spent decades in power.

"Nawaz Sharif who now has to undergo treatment in Pakistan's hospitals is not satisfied with the facilities," he said. "You [Nawaz Sharif] were the prime minister for 30 years, your younger brother was chief minister and now you don't like the hospitals here?"

Also read: Lahore hospital set to evaluate Nawaz's health

Furthermore, Chaudhry defended the incumbent government's conduct as well as the accountability drive it has spearheaded since coming into power.

He claimed that the PTI government had inherited a virtually "bankrupt economy", and that the previous governments had taken 84 per cent of the loans the country has ever taken over the last 10 years alone.

"When we ask them where all that [loan] money went, they say that democracy is under threat," he said. "Their situation can be likened to when prayers are offered in jail. A murderer makes the prayer call, a dacoit leads the prayer and thieves line up behind him to pray.

In further criticism, the information minister said that money allotted for the welfare of the people was badly misused by the past rulers.

"Money allotted for the development of Larkana, leaves Karachi, but ends up being found in Dubai," he said. "Similarly, Punjab development funds leave Lahore, then turns up in London in the form of Avenfield apartments. These two parties have turned Pakistan into a joke."

Chaudhry also responded to criticism leveled towards the government for not providing subsidy to Haj pilgrims this year.

"What have they left behind in the poor people's pockets that we will take from them to give a subsidy," he said.

The minister said that the prime minister has to date not taken a single penny from the national exchequer, despite having every right to, as he regards himself accountable to the people.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...