Will oppose budget if against people’s interest: PML-N

PML-N leaders demand of the premier to explain reasons for cabinet reshuffle

LAHORE: The senators and the National Assembly members (MNAs) belonging to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday vowed to “vehemently oppose” any steps in the coming budget that would increase the already skyrocketing prices.

In a joint meeting of PML-N parliamentarians, chaired by former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the lawmakers resolved that they would not accept any budget that failed to provide relief to people under the prevailing circumstances.

The high-level party meeting laid down a list of demands for Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfill with immediate effect. They demanded that PM Khan must explain the reasons for the cabinet reshuffle and the terms and conditions for the IMF bailout package on the floor of the house.

They further demanded that the premier should brief the parliament on the conditions of the LNG deal.



They meeting stressed that the government should explain the reasons for tampering with gas bills to which it has already conceded.

The gathering of lawmakers said that the premier should fix the responsibility on the minister responsible for increase in cost of medicines and should explain why such inhumane and anti-people step was taken.

The list also included the demand that PM Khan should tell the nation what action is taken against those ministers who acted against the national interest and were sacked in the recent cabinet reshuffle.

The PML-N demanded an immediate increase in salaries of public and private employees before Ramazan, in view of the inflation caused by the PTI government.

The meeting demanded implementation of this measure with immediate effect saying that the worst inflation in the history of the country had made it impossible for hardworking Pakistanis to honorably keep and break their Ramazan fasts.

It was demanded that the entire Parliament should be briefed on the National Action Plan at the earliest without further delay.

The parliamentarians said that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif should be immediately released so that his emergent medical needs are addressed and condemned politicization of his ailment. Special prayers were offered for the health, life and safety of the PML-N supremo.

The meeting expressed solidarity with Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Kamran Michael, Hafiz Nauman, Fawad Hassan Fawad and Ahad Cheema.

The gathering said that the ‘so-called accountability bureau’ could not prove a single allegation against these individuals. The parliamentarians alleged that the arrest, harassment and abduction of these individuals were an act of tyranny. They said that the dark era of worst ever political victimization would end soon.

Immediate release of Jalaluddin, son of Member PML-N Central Organizing Committee and former MNA Shahabuddin was demanded by the Nawaz league congregation.

The meeting expressed concern over the precarious state of economy and said that the rate of inflation to 10 percent was a blatant proof of PTI government’s inability and incompetence.

The lawmakers condemned the suspension of three PML-N Punjab Assembly MPAs and termed it a signature dictatorial act of the PTI regime.

They alleged that the government was abusing power to shun anyone who dared to point out its failures and blunders.

The party’s top brass reaffirmed its resolve to continue opposing government’s anti-people actions.

Nawaz league leaders maintained that any action of PTI, no matter how repressive it is, would not deter the PML-N from performing its duty as the representatives of the people of Pakistan.