Running country has turned into a joke: Iqbal

Says PML-N fell victim to international conspiracy against CPEC

LAHORE: Taking a jibe at the ruling PTI government, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal has said the government has turned the serious business of running the country into a comedy theatre where ministers are busy cracking jokes and hurling insults instead of addressing challenges.

“Any further taxes on the already burdened people will be vociferously opposed,” said the former minister for planning and development while addressing the PML-N Azad Jammu and Kashmir Working Committee on Friday.

“The middle-class society of this country is already crushed under heavy taxes, exaggerated tariffs of electricity and gas, and inflation in cost of everyday commodities imposed by the incompetent PTI government,” Iqbal added. “The PML-N government fell victim to an international conspiracy against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Nawaz Sharif is being subjected to the worst victimisation by the same perpetrators. However, the people of Pakistan from Gwadar to Gilgit stand by the PML-N Quaid.”

Iqbal said the PML-N was the party that founded Pakistan which “is why this party is the custodian of its security and prosperity”.

“Pakistan saw record development during the PML-N’s tenure under the leadership of Nawaz,” he said, adding that Nawaz revived the confidence of the people in democratic governance by giving them relief and hope for a better future.

The former minister said confidence of local and international investors was boosted by the innovative policies of the PML-N government while at the same time restoring peace, rooting out terrorism and ending electricity crisis aided economic revival.

The PML-N leader said, “The year 2019 is the year of reorganisation for the PML-N for which a fresh membership drive will be launched from March. Special focus of the membership drive will be on the induction of female and youth members.”

The PML-N, he said, had always promoted and encouraged the youth of Pakistan by providing them various platforms; allocating extensive scholarships and facilitating them through modern technology by distributing laptops.

In addition, employment schemes for females and youth were introduced and resources were allocated to facilitate entrepreneurship, he said.

“Upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, respecting democratic practices and working for the welfare of the people of Pakistan is the motto of the PML-N,” he concluded.