Shehbaz slams PTI govt for increasing gas, power prices

LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for increasing gas, electricity and fertiliser prices within 20 days of taking office.

Addressing a press conference, Shehbaz said that such an increase has not happened before, adding that “we will become the voice of the farmers and the common man”.

“We spent Rs122 billion for the construction of Bhasha Dam,” said Shehbaz in reference to the premier’s call for funding dam construction. However, “You do not need to collect funds for Diamer-Bhasha Dam but should attract investors”.

“There should be no delay in power production through Bhasha Dam.”

Shehbaz also criticised the federal government’s plan to scrap the laptop scheme he had introduced.

The PML-N leader lashed out at the PTI government’s austerity drive, saying, “We ate daal chawal during meetings and only made special arrangements during visits of foreign dignitaries.”

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan did not come into power because of votes but through rigging.

“PM Imran was not elected but came into power through rigging,” he said, adding that PM Khan had assured him that a parliamentary commission would be formed to investigate allegations of rigging but that has not yet happened.

“Three weeks have passed and a parliamentary commission has still not been formed,” he said.

“We will ensure that a commission is made at any cost,” he added and urged the prime minister to “fulfil his promises”.

Moreover, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to boycott the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected President Dr Arif Alvi.

According to details, newly elected President Dr Arif Alvi will take oath of his office at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Sunday.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar will administer the oath to the newly elected president.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, chiefs of armed forces, federal ministers, foreign diplomats and other prominent personalities would participate in the oath-taking ceremony.

Invitation cards have been sent to the leadership of PML-N and PPP from the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Sources said that PML-N would boycott the function as a protest, adding that opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly, Raja Zafrul Haq and Shehbaz Sharif respectively would not attend the ceremony.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Khurshid Shah and Sherry Rehman have been invited to the oath-taking ceremony, however, there is a less possibility of their participation in the event.