ISLAMABAD:
While hitting hard at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government over its "incompetence", Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government's borrowings during its first two years were more than the three tenures of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif combined.
"Medicines and CT scans for cancer and hepatitis patients were free in Punjab during our government's tenure but not only they [the PTI government] stopped it but also increased prices of medicines," he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday along with other PML-N leaders for presenting a white paper titled "Destruction of National Power" on the PTI government's two-year rule.
Press conference of Mian Shehbaz Sharif on PTIs disasterour 2 year performance. https://t.co/6d73WINjEu
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) August 24, 2020
Shehbaz said that his party is all for accountability but 'witch-hunting' in the name of accountability is not acceptable, alleging that connivance of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the government is only targeting the opposition leaders.
He said despite having all the support, the 'selected' government's performance had been "miserable in these two years".
"People have had enough of Naya Pakistan," he added.
'Govt's statements on CPEC caused confusion, soared relations with China'
The PML-N president slammed the government for its treatment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying that many absurd statements from the federal ministers not only caused confusion but apparently deteriorated relations with China which is Pakistan most dependable friend and partner.
"They [PTI government] basically ridiculed it [CPEC]. The allegations [made by the federal ministers] were absurd. They even said this during the National Assembly sessions."
He criticised the statement of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, saying that such statements were not expected from such an experienced statesman. "It was extremely inappropriate [what Shah Mehmood Qureshi said]. Our relationship with a brotherly country soared because of it."
'Corruption not even worth a penny proven'
The opposition leader also said that corruption not even worth a penny has been proven against him of any leader of his party. "Whether it be LNG projects, or CPEC or any other project, despite the propagation [by the government] against us, they haven't been able prove any corruption in any project."
He said that sugar was available for Rs52 per kg during the PML-N's government but the price has skyrocketed to Rs100 per kg and it was all due to the sheer negligence and incompetence of the government.
"They [government] exported sugar. Manufacturers and exporters made billions of rupees at the expense of farmers. And later, we imported it," Shehbaz said while criticising the government's policy.
He said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that wheat has been harvested and the stokes were ending. "The government should investigate where the wheat had been smuggled."
The opposition leader criticised the government for increasing the petroleum prices despite hitting rock bottom in the international market.
He said that many areas have been facing power outages in the country despite having a surplus production which merely portrays the incompetence of the government.
"Rupee devalued 40% during the tenure of the present government. Despite that, there is no significance increase in our exports. This is only the second time in the history of Pakistan that our GDP growth is in negative. Last time that happened was in 1952. Our GDP growth was recorded at -0.4 per cent."
He went on to say that the government cannot hide behind the Covid-19 pandemic as millions had already lost their jobs before it.
Highlighting achievements of his government, the PML-N leader said that the development work done under the PML-N government is making the lives of masses even now.
He said that those who have travelled between Lahore and Karachi know how comfortable the journey is. "When Multan-Sukker motorway is completed, even the people who normally use airlines would travel by road... it is that comfortable."
Shehbaz further said that merely saying ghabrana nahi hai (don't worry) — a popular slogan of Prime Minister Imran Khan — will not end the hunger of the people and practical steps would need to be taken to end the miseries of the people.
Hitting back
Terming the PML-N’s press conference as “useless,” Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz blamed the past rulers for the hike in prices of basic commodities.
He was addressing a news conference in Islamabad flanked by Industries Minister Hammad Azhar.
“They [opposition] have only agenda to make money,” Shibli said, adding that opposition parties while in power weakened national institutions which were responsible for controlling inflation and money laundering in the country by appointing their cronies on important official posts.
He also set aside the claims of PML-N leaders that the ruling PTI is consist of “representatives of elite”, saying Prime Minister Imran Khan’s all initiatives were meant for weak and marginalised segments of the society.
وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات ونشریات سینیٹر شبلی فراز اور حماد اظہر کی پریس کانفرنس۔ https://t.co/urVXZwhDP8
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) August 24, 2020
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