Imran's govt defends budget against 'bundle of lies'

PTI ministers give scathing rejoinder to opposition

ISLAMABAD:

After the joint opposition fired a broadside at the government over its budget 2020-21, the federal ministers were quick to defend their decision. 

“No new taxes have been imposed, relief has been given ... withholding taxes and custom duties have been removed, so what are they rejecting?" Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar said during a news conference along with Communications Minister Murad Saeed and Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Sunday.

Azhar said that such tactics had become a sort of "tradition" for the opposition. "When I was reading the budget and it was not yet tabled, even then they [opposition] had rejected it. This has become a tradition for them for political point-scoring.

"Since we are facing difficult times, I expected the situation to be different. However, the opposition has always bowed down to their own interest and not the country's."

He added that the criticism regarding increase in petroleum prices was baseless as prices in Pakistan were still lower than other countries in the region.

The information minister said that the opposition parties were not sincere with the country and masses, rather they were eager to cover up their corruption.

“The former rulers are responsible for the present plight of masses, destruction of the economy and institutions,” Shibli said, adding that when in power, leaders of the opposition parties only promoted their own businesses and purchased properties worth billions of rupees abroad by looting and plundering national resources.

He termed the news conference of the opposition parties held here “a bundle of lies”.

The minister said it was duplicity of the highest level that those who were weeping for the poor were the ones who had built properties worth billions by misusing their power.

He said PML-N was divided into many groups led by Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi but they were claiming that the PTI was divided which was not the fact.

He said Imran Khan was the savior of the country under whose leadership Pakistan would make progress and the nation would prosper.

The minister said Imran Khan with his clarity of mind and vision had restored the global image and identity of the country and the nation which was ruined by the past rulers.

“The demand for fresh elections by opposition at this critical juncture showed that they only care for personal interests, not the country.”

To a question, he said the PTI was fully united and the budget would be passed on Monday (today). 

He said the former rulers had the habit of corruption and they were worried about their illegally built properties abroad. “Now, Pakistan has changed and the PPP and the PML-N have become part of history.” 

Communications Minister Murad said that the country is moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran with the support of the nation.

“Both the PPP and the PML-N are afraid of the PTI government’s success,” said Murad, adding that instead of feeling ashamed that money was deposited in fake accounts in Sindh, they spoke.

He pointed out that the world was moving towards a smart lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the strategy adopted by Pakistan under the vision of PM Imran.

“Due to the lockdown, daily wagers were badly affected and the PTI government came to their rescue by announcing a relief package.” He said that on the very first day, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his government would protect people from the pandemic and also poverty and hunger, adding that the prime minister had brought the Kashmir issue to the UNSC after 54 years and always fought Pakistan’s case internationally.