LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has opposed the government’s decision of converting the Prime Minister House into an educational institute, and governor houses into museums and hotels.
“This PM House is not the personal property of Imran Khan. He should convert his own Banigala Mahal into a university. This House is a state asset and belongs to the people of Pakistan and to house all future prime ministers as well. Strongly opposed,” central information secretary Dr Nafisa Shah said in a tweet in response to federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood’s statement on setting up a university at the official residence of the prime minister as well as using other state houses as museums and hotels.
Ms Shah, in another tweet, wondered why Imran Khan was bent on eliminating official spaces available to elected prime ministers and indicated that she was worried about hosting foreign dignitaries during their visits.
She asked if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) expected future prime ministers to park themselves in Islamabad’s guest houses and host foreign dignitaries in the wedding halls of Rawalpindi.
Ms Shah clarified in another tweet that she’s not against establishing educational institutions.
Highlighting that the “PM House is an institution not simply a residence”, she criticised the government for extracting political mileage out of the decision. She said that it was upsetting that the PTI had to resort to such publicity stunts.
The PPP general secretary Farhatullah Khan Babar also used social media to show his disappointment against selectively targeting civilian representatives and turning their official residences into museums.
In a tweet, he said: “Heritage buildings in use of government functionaries turned into museums. Jinnah House in Lahore, bought by Quaid in 1943, is residence of Corps Commander; historic Balahisar in Peshawar houses HQ of Frontier Corps.
Can not make these vederas happy because they live on corruption.
Does not make any sense what these two people are saying. IK is doing the right by giving the places back or open them for the common people.
If ppp is willing to bear the expenses then let it be the prime minister house?
The ideas of PTI smell of populism as it is important first to find out if a building is suitable for the purpose for which it is being assigned. An University or educational Institute may require other building norms and functionalities compared to a residence of a Prime Minister of the nation. If reconstructions and new constructions become necessary, then the question may be raised, if enough fund is available or if the same fund could be better used to construct new buildings for the proposed educational institutes. It appears that proper thoughts are not going into making popular decisions.
Times have changed, dear Lady! The days of Wadera - both feudal landlord waderas as well as political waderas - are over. There is no need for a PM or President of one of the world's poorest countries (made so by Zardari and Nawaz taking turns to loot the nation to build their empires overseas) to have 'prime-ministerial' or 'presidential' palaces to serve the people. O yes, also please be reminded that the days of 'ruling' people are over too. Now - in this wadera-less world, PMs and Presidents are expected to SERVE the people. While you are at it, please also tell your 'leaders' to stop blaming the mothers in Thar for their children dying of malnutrition and lack of medicine - and start to realise their own failure and miserable performance. Sitting in palatial buildings do not make great leaders - crooks remain crooks.
Feudal minds. PPP has not become mature in even 40 yrs. It's pity.
It is in the eye of the beholder.
Criticism for the sake of Critcism. Dr.Nafisa, the PM house is the property of governmrnt and museum will also be property of government. What is the objection?
Well the idea is, as far as I can get it is that it will start a tickle down effect and will make bureaucrats and authoritarians vacate their lavish residences. Which is in fact necessary when you are living in a country where a huge chunk of people live under less than a dollar and supremos in palaces.
I fully agree with you on the question of conversion of state buildings into educational institutions and museums.
Nafeesa shah is the daughter of Qaiem Ali shah EX chief minister of sindh.who visited Thar with forty nine police mobiles on the death of children whom were died due to mal nutrition.she has feudal mind set.she is foreign qualified but do not wanted to see poor men children in the universities.
What if some one says "Ppp using street crime to strengthen it's un democratic hold in Khi!" Sounds about right.
Political Leaders should think if Pakistan can afford luxuries or adopt austereity ? Due to Economical crises in Europe --Countries like Greece--Spain--Portugal-Italy etc all trying to reduce Government expences.Let the new govt do the work for atleast 4 to 6 months and see the results before objections. Suggest that all politician should help new govt to reduce corruption and luxuries instead of looking for bail out and Loans.If I did not do any good for our Country then atlast I should help others to do some good for the nation.
In fact PPP is using cheap publicity stunts by criticizing this! When they cannot find any fault in IK, they start talking about such issues. Why worry so much, when there is no chance of PPP prime minister in the near future.
A very poor country, heavily burdened with loans, dire shortages of electricity, water and housing facilities but a grandeur building for a PM and presidents.. Wow.. A man who thinks and works for the betterment of common people will be certainly opposed. What a shame for those who don't understand what is good for the country.
I am 100% with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Why does our prime minister and president's houses be more extravagant than many wealthy nations on the planet earth?
Now you have come to know this.