Imran calls PML-N govt ‘democratic dictatorship’

Says PML-N rule worse than Musharraf’s; to resist anti-people steps

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has termed the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s style of governance as ‘democratic dictatorship’ and vowed to resist anti-people steps through protest campaigns.

“The rulers have been nurtured by a military dictator and their rule is even worse than General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s as they use force against people and register fake cases,” PTI Chairman Imran Khan said while addressing a press conference at his residence in Bani Gala.



Imran condemned the killing of three employees of the Pakistan International Airlines in Karachi and said the government should have satisfied the workers over privatisation.

“They have always resorted to violence against the masses. The rulers are in the habit of killing innocent people,” he said while referring to the killing of Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers in Lahore’s Model Town and beating up of PTI workers during a sit-in on August 30, 2014.

Imran had earlier announced that his party would launch a nationwide protest campaign against government policies on February 6. He said he would join the drive, but the venue would be decided later.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Imran is more likely to lead the protest in Karachi to express solidarity with PIA workers. However, if things are settled before February 6, the PTI chief would lead the protests in Lahore, where people are already protesting in the streets against the Orange Line train project. Though the PTI has called for a one-day protest, it may end up as a mass rally at D-Chowk on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad.



Talking about the PIA’s privatisation, Imran demanded that the government address the concerns of the employees and introduce reforms instead of dismissing workers. “We did not dismiss the health workers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but introduced reforms in the health sector despite opposition.”

He said the PML-N had always opted for dubious privatisation deals in the past and asked the government to convince the people of the benefits of privatisation instead of bulldozing legislation in parliament.

Criticising the tax amnesty scheme, the PTI chairman said the government had exempted the rich from paying taxes but the poor were forced to pay new taxes. “During the PPP government tax on diesel was 22% but now it is 98%, otherwise its price would have been Rs38 per litre.”

He said the tax on gas was 68% and the commodity was unavailable in winter, as it happens with electricity in summer. “The rulers have taken a record Rs5 trillion in loans in the last three years.”



Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the party’s vice-chairman, said the PTI and other opposition parties in the NA had submitted a requisition on the PIA protest and the NA speaker should convene a session at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Imran’s announcement of launching a protest campaign was aimed at ‘freezing the process of economic growth’, Radio Pakistan reported on Tuesday.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Rashid said the party had earlier caused a delay of six months in the launching of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2016.