PID gates shut to keep PTI leaders out

PID gates shut to keep PTI leaders out:

ISLAMABAD: The contretemps between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf landed at the gates of the Press Information Department (PID) on Thursday, which had to be shut after the PTI leaders were denied the use of the premises to hold a press conference.  

PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister for Capital Administration and Development, and MNA Daniyal Aziz had just ended a press conference at the PID when PTI information secretary Naeemul Haq and MNA Murad Saeed arrived there to hold their press conference.

They were denied entrance to the PID, after which they held a press conference in front of the premises and demanded that the government make public the inquiry report on a Dawn story about a security meeting.

On the other hand, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said that according to PID rules, only sitting ministers and government officials had the right to hold press conferences on the premises which was why the PTI leaders had been denied use of the forum.

Information minister says under PID rules, only government officials have the right to use its premises:

Tensions simmered at the gates of the PID which had been shut to keep the PTI leaders out. Mr Aziz and Mr Chaudhry had just left the building after holding their press conference, but the PTI information secretary claimed that the ruling party leaders had “escaped” through the backdoor.

Speaking to reporters in front of the building, Mr Haq demanded that the prime minister make the inquiry report public, and alleged that Maryam Nawaz, the PM’s daughter, and his secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad were involved in leaking the news, but were being protected by Mr Sharif.

“Maryam Nawaz had served me a Rs10bn notice for taking her name in the news leaks [case] but even after the lapse of [several] months, she has not pursued her notice,” he said.

He claimed that PTI leaders had the right to use state institutions to hold press conferences but the ruling party had acted against democratic norms by denying them entrance to the PID building.

Mr Haq said Prime Minister Sharif was trying to influence the joint investigation team (JIT) formed in the Panama Papers case. “They are trying to interfere...But we will not allow the government to affect the proceedings of the JIT,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said the PTI had sought prior permission to hold a press conference at the PID. “The PID is being used for personal publicity of Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif (Punjab chief minister) as Rs32bn [has been spent] on advertisements for their projection,” he claimed.

In response to the PTI’s roadside press conference, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTI had not sought any permission for holding a press conference there. “Under the rules, holding a press conference at the PID is the sole prerogative of ministers and government officials.”

This is the second time that PTI leaders tried to hold a press conference at the PID and were disallowed. They did manage to hold a press conference there last year after former information minister Pervaiz Rashid granted them use of the premises.

Earlier at the press conference, Mr Chaudhry and Mr Aziz had accused PTI chairman Imran Khan of not facing the proceedings of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) probing allegations of foreign funding to the party. They said Imran Khan had used foreign funding to run party affairs, which was ‘prohibited’ under the Political Parties Order.

“As per law, leaders of political parties are bound to submit a certificate before the ECP every year, [stating] that they have not used any foreign funds in party affairs. But Imran Khan had been collecting foreign funds and submitting the certificate every year, contrary to the law,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Mr Aziz claimed that Imran Khan had admitted that his party had collected foreign funds under the name of PTI Limited Liability Taxes and PTI Limited Liability Company, which were registered with the US Justice Department, and transferred those funds to the party’s head office in Islamabad.

“Imran Khan even collected funds from states that Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with. What does it mean when funds come from such countries?” he questioned.

Mr Aziz had said earlier that Imran Khan had denied ownership of the Niazi Services Limited, but now he said that he was its ultimate beneficiary. “We will not spare Imran Khan and [will] expose him before the public,” he said, advising the PTI chief to be ready for answering his questions.