Shehbaz blames Imran, cabinet for wheat crisis

PML-N president urges party leaders to formulate a joint strategy to oust govt

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet for the ongoing wheat crisis while demanding an investigation against the shortage of flour through a parliamentary panel.

In a statement on Monday, the PML-N president rejected the recent increase in the prices of wheat, flour and sugar. “It has been more than 24 hours but the prime minister could not offer any strategy to avert the crisis,” said Shehbaz.

He ordered the party’s parliamentary leadership to formulate a joint strategy with the opposition to help the nation oust the incumbent government, which has a “corrupt and destructive agenda”.  He said: “Let us liberate the country from the mob working on an anti-people agenda.”

Mitigating crisis: PM Imran approves import of 300,000 tonnes of wheat

Shehbaz who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly asked how 48,000 tonnes of wheat was exported from the country between July and October 2019, despite restrictions from the federal government.

The opposition leader demanded of the government to name the “beneficiary of Rs1.83 billion who profiteered from the crisis” while also questioning the food security ministry’s claim that not a single pinch of wheat was exported from the country after July 25. He warned that the ones who robbed the country and exported wheat would be held accountable for every penny.

Lamenting over the prevailing situation, Shehbaz said an agricultural country has been brought to a point where it had to import wheat. “What could be more depressing than the inefficiency, incompetence and shame of this government?”

It is on record that from September 2018-October 2019, Pakistan exported 693,000 metric tonnes of wheat, he claimed. The opposition leader demanded of the government to state the price at which the wheat was first exported and the price on which it will now be imported into the country.

“After snatching electricity, gas and jobs, the government is now on the spree to deprive the impoverished masses of their basic needs,” said Shehbaz.

“This ‘government of oppression’ cannot last anymore. If the incompetent government continues to govern, Pakistan is feared to face an irreparable loss. Every patriotic Pakistani is worried about Pakistan. The sooner the country is relieved from this inefficient group, the better it would be for our national and public interest. Arrogance, stubbornness and foolishness have destroyed every part of the country,” he added.

In the wake of the prevailing crisis, he said party leaders have the responsibility to formulate a concrete strategy by contacting all political leaders and heads of parliamentary parties. “We cannot leave the people at the mercy of this incompetent group of rulers,” he added.