–Former premier says PM Imran Khan-led govt will fall under its own weight
–Fawad asks Opp to hold press conference against Zardari, Nawaz ‘who plundered national wealth’
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s economic policies have failed to deliver as any positive change is yet to be witnessed.
Addressing a press conference along with other PML-N leaders, he said the PTI government failed to steer the country out of the existing economic crisis.
“I am not criticising, rather putting the facts in front of the nation. The government needs to be truthful to the public about revenue collection and refrain from imposing new taxes on the already-burdened,” Abbasi said.
Questioning the uncertainty regarding the under-discussion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the PML-N leader said that it was unclear why the federal government was still in a situation of “ifs and buts” over the freshly-sought bailout package from the Fund.
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He said that Pakistan had received approximately $11bn from friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and others, but their utilisation was marred by obscurity. “Government should clarify where these funds were spent,” he asserted.
Abbasi further commented that the government is yet to take any positive step for strengthening the economy.
The government’s policies have increased the inflation rate which affected the common man, he argued, adding that they are bringing a second mini-budget in just five months, which “indicates their failure”.
NO CONSPIRACY:
The PML-N leader stated that his party was not conspiring against the incumbent government, adding that it “will fall under its own weight.”
He claimed that those in power didn’t know anything about the affairs of the state, and went on to call the government a “mob of liars”.
On Wednesday, the NAB had accorded approval to an inquiry against Abbasi for alleged corruption.
FAWAD RESPONDS:
In reaction, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain proposed the opposition leaders to hold a press conference against Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, stressing them to return the plundered national wealth to help resolve the economic problems of the country.
He was responding to the opposition leaders’ press conference, held earlier on Thursday.
The information minister said it was strange that after joint investigation team’s (JIT) report and sentences announced by the court, they were making undue hue and cry over country’s economy and public issues.
He said the opposition should have improved the financial condition of the country and resolved issues of the people when they were in power. “After ringing of alarm bells, the people threw the national exchequer looters out of the power,” he said.
The whole nation was paying the price of their wrongdoings as they badly damaged the country’s economy and plunged the nation into the quagmire of debts, he said and added those who ruthlessly plundered the national exchequer were now trying to pretend themselves innocent.
The minister was of the view that the opposition leaders were themselves committing a crime by holding such media talks in favour of national wealth plunderers.
He said the opposition was in mind-boggling situation due to the practical steps taken by the present government for the construction of Mohmand Dam.
The minister said honesty was one of the key characteristics of PM Imran Khan and proposed the opposition leaders to mend their ways instead of giving infeasible ideas to the government.
