PML-Q not ready to teach PPP how to govern: Haroon Akhtar Khan

PPP has wasted three years and has driven the country into a difficult place, says PML-Q senator.

Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan, of the PML-Q, quashed rumours that the PML-Q may be joining the ruling PPP in a National Reconciliatory Government. He was speaking on last night’s Express 24/7 show Witness with Quatrina.

The show featured Col (R) Naveed Iqbal Saajad, a PPP MPA from Rahim Yar Khan, Advocate Naseer Bhutta, an MNA with the PML-N and Senator Haroon Akhtar of the PML-Q. Senator Waseem Sajjad of the PML-Q and the leader of the opposition in the senate joined in via a telephone call.

Senator Khan said that the PPP had wasted three years in power and had driven the country into a difficult place where there were a number of real problems.

He said that the idea of reconciling on the serious challenges faced by the country was necessary to solve those problems, however nowhere were they required to become part of the government.

“We will not step into their shoes and teach them how to govern” the Senator said, explaining why no one from his part was willing to accept a ministry.

Senator Waseem Sajjad while on the line early in the program said that the government had been in touch with the PML-Q for a very long time, however the PML-Q had no intention of leaving the opposition benches. A better option would be to have all the major parties to sit down, put their individual differences aside and collectively work on the problems being faced by the country, he said.

Colonel (R) Naveed Iqbal Saajad, representing PPP, said that they were trying to get parties on board who were better suited to solve certain issues. This included getting parties like PML-Q, MQM and the JUI-F to be part of the government. The PPP was not looking to challenge dominance of parties like PML-N, however it was aware of the partisan policies of the Punjab government and these need to be addressed.

Waseem Bhutta, an MNA with the PML-N, was of the view that the PPP was looking very fragile and was now looking to prolong itself. PPP and the PML-Q were in a fix as neither had been able to make significant progress and were facing public pressure, he said. The PML-Q, which would otherwise like to be part of the government could not afford to be seen shouldering the failures of the PPP so close to the elections.

Senator Khan also said that reforms and taxes which are not in the better interest of the people will continue to be blocked and opposed to in the parliament. The government, he argued, was in the current economic straits due to its own follies and it must tax the rich, stop taking dictations from the IMF, and make public sector companies profitable again.