BISP head urges apology after Rana Sanaullah's beggar remarks
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Monday urged those whose words may have hurt BISP beneficiariesโ sentiments to apologise. While she did not specifically name anyone, the senator said this during a press conference in Islamabad after mentioning remarks by Prime Ministerโs Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. Speaking on Geo Newsโ programme โCapital Talkโ last week, Sanaullah claimed that the BISP data was โnot accurate to the extent of Punjabโ, alleged it was marred by corruption and remarked that the programme served no purpose other than turning people into beggars. In her press conference, Khalid said it was not right to say that BISP was turning people into beggars, explaining that the programme catered to those who worked to earn a living. But, she continued, when they need financial assistance, it is the stateโs responsibility to aid them without compromising their self-respect. โBISP does not turn people into beggars; it prevents people from becoming one,โ she said. She then appealed to โall those giving such statements to abstain from doing soโ. โIt is insulting,โ she said. โNo one has the right to insult, and I would appeal to them to apologise to [BISP beneficiary] families whose sentiments have been hurt by their words.โ She said while she was โopen to suggestionsโ for the programmeโs improvement, derogatory words about it. The programme should not be โtargeted for political motivesโ, she added. Khalid said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had full confidence in the programme, sharing further details about the programme. Moreover, she said the BISP database was the largest in the country after the National Database and Registration Authorityโs database. โSaying that its data is incorrect, giving such sweeping statements โ it takes years to build something and only a day is enough to destroy it,โ she remarked. More to follow