PM Shehbaz Sharif breaks silence over unconditional apology of British daily
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Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the unconditional apology by the British publication *Daily Mail* was a vindication of the 220 million of Pakistan which also thwarted an anti-state conspiracy hatched by Imran Khan and his cronies.
“Finally, after three years, they (Daily Mail) tendered an apology, not from me but all of you. It was an apology from 220 million of Pakistan and from millions of those mothers and children who were benefiting from DIFD projects to support their food and health,” the prime minister said addressing a press conference here along with the cabinet members.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, along with federal cabinet members, is addressing a press conference after the British publication Daily Mail's “unconditional apology”.
Shehbaz Sharif termed the approach as ‘heartless’ by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his ‘so-called minions’ for getting involved with the Daily Mail controversy.
He stressed that the Sharif family spent the money in a transparent manner, however, the article aimed at proving that we laundered millions of rupees abroad.
“They just wanted to embarrass our family by any means, without considering how it would impact Pakistan’s reputation,” he said, adding that England’s Department for International Development (DFID) provided 600 million pounds to Pakistan for flood assistance.
Apprising the media of the allegations leveled by the previous government through the *Daily Mail* article, the prime minister said the onslaught was only meant to defame him, Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
“He (Imran Khan) was so callous to never think that it will not only malign Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif rather it will hurt Pakistan’s reputation,” he remarked. The newspaper also published its apology in Sunday’s print edition, he added.
He told the media that DFID project’s amount of 600 million pounds was spent transparently and the allegations were also contradicted by the DFID itself.
“Consequently, the country was mocked and a message was conveyed that Pakistan should not be given aid or grant,” he said.
