By: Tufail Abbasi
MURREE: Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has strongly criticized the Punjab government for what he termed “unjust land acquisition” under Section 4 in Murree, warning that such actions could compel locals to launch a movement similar to the one in 1997.
Speaking at a press conference in Murree, Abbasi said that people’s land and businesses are being acquired without justification and that Schedule Four has been applied in the area for the first time. He denounced the practice as oppressive, adding, “Punjab is being run through the police. The police belong to no one — they have handcuffed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, and Maryam Nawaz alike. Using state power to suppress people is condemnable.”
He also criticized the demolition drive on Murree’s Mall Road, particularly targeting Kashmiri Bazaar, saying it would leave a large number of people unemployed.
Commenting on foreign relations, Abbasi said strengthening Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations was the need of the hour, reminding that Pakistan had always supported Saudi Arabia in matters of defense and that nearly five million Pakistanis were working there.
Abbasi was accompanied by Coordinator Hafiz Usman Abbasi, Haseeb-ur-Rehman Abbasi, and Kamran Masood Abbasi.
