PM Imran must apologise for 'economic mess', says Bilawal

PM blames PPP for ruining economy but has members of Zardari's team in federal cabinet including Abdul Hafeez Shaikh

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to apologise to the masses for ruining the country’s economy in only the first eight months of his party’s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s) government.

The PPP chairman while addressing a public rally in the Landhi neighbourhood of Karachi slammed the prime minister for rendering thousands of people not only jobless but also homeless owing to the government’s failed policies.

“We are not against accountability, but with politicians, judges and generals should also be held accountable,” said Bilawal warning of severe consequences in case the “one-sided accountability” continues.

He added the incumbent government has destroyed the country’s economy in only a few months, leaving the people to bear the brunt of rising inflation.  “The skyrocketing prices of all commodities have made the life of a common man miserable,” he added.

“On this Labour Day, I ask PM Imran to tender an apology to the poor for the escalating inflation and leaving them without jobs and homes,” said the PPP chief, adding the PTI government even removed its finance minister realising that their policies have failed.

Taking a jibe at the revamped cabinet, he said the premier blames the PPP for the country’s economic troubles but has members of the Zardari’s team in his cabinet including Abdul Hafeez Sheikh— the PM’s advisor for finance.

“What double standards; the PTI government is bestowing the rich with amnesty schemes while the poor are being burdened with inflation,” he said adding under the current circumstances the poor will keep getting poorer while the rich double their wealth.

According to Bilawal, the federal government instead of developing the country has ruined it. “They are not considering how to develop Pakistan but are only focused on political victimisation,” he claimed to add the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are only working for political gains.

“Every businessman and trader has become a dacoit and thief in this country. You cannot run an economy with this approach,” he said further stating the NAB law is a black law promulgated by General Pervez Musharraf for political engineering.

“NAB is torturing and harassing people in their custody.  Look how they behaved with a doctor and professors. What happened with former army official Asad Munir who committed suicide in Islamabad,” he said adding the terror of NAB and FIA is not a hidden secret anymore and the people of Pakistan know all about it.

The Bhutto-Zardari scion further demanded that the government must disclose the upcoming agreement being inked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and said that not only PTI but its coalition partners including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) will be equally responsible for the government’s policies.

Meanwhile, calling the PM Imran Khan-led government a puppet government, Bilawal alleged that biased accountability is being used a pressure tactic with the motive to repeal the 18^th Amendment and revoke the policies and laws made during the PPP’s tenure.

He, however, appreciated the Sindh government who according to him has set precedent in making laws for labourers in the province, which other provincial governments have failed at

“We provided 6. 8 million jobs to people during our tenures. Has anyone gotten such achievement," he concluded adding the PTI had stolen the mandate from Karachi and other parts of the country and the PPP will continue to protest against it.