PPP eases pressure on govt over $1.5bn Saudi grant

ISLAMABAD: The PPP came to the rescue of the government on Friday amid strong criticism and allegations of a compromise on the foreign policy after obtaining a $1.5 billion aid, apparently to send troops to a Middle Eastern country. Commenting on the issue, the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, PPP’s Khurshid Shah, said: “We should trust the statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about not sending troops to any country.” The prime minister had said on Thursday that Pakistan would not send its troops to any country and it had not received any request in this regard. The Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz recently told parliament that a $1.5bn ‘grant’ had been received from Saudi Arabia and it would be used for the welfare of the people and the country. “We should take seriously the statements of the prime minister on important issues,” opposition leader said. Before Prime Minister Sharif’s statement, Mr Shah had also urged the government to explain its position on the issue. “If this $1.5bn is a gift then it should be included in the Guinness World Records,” he had said on Wednesday. The PPP has already moved adjournment motions in the National Assembly and Senate to discuss whether the bailout package is a result of a ‘compromise’ on the country’s policy on Syria. Some political experts believe that a policy statement on such an important issue should be given in parliament. The opposition leader said: “It is not the duty of the opposition to always confront and criticise the government.” Replying to a question, he said the government had not contacted him for consultations on the appointment of the chief election commissioner.