Accepting IMF terms will paralyse country: Shehbaz

Says a mini-budget on IMF terms is sounding alarm bells for Pakistan's national security

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif has said that as a result of the current conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there are serious fears that Pakistan's defense capability and future system of government will be paralyzed.

In a statement, Shehbaz Sharif said that another mini-budget is being presented on the demands of the IMF. One more thing that I told the nation has come true and another claim of the government has been proven false, he added.

The nation and the parliament were lied to by the government and they have been criminally negligent in protecting the interests of the nation, he stated. Shehbaz said that reports of a mini-budget on IMF terms are alarm bells for Pakistan's national security.

Read The IMF pinch

I have repeatedly warned that this government has proven to be a conspiracy against the economic sovereignty of Pakistan, he said adding that in the mini-budget, legislation on State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and General Sales Tax (GST) will make Pakistan an economic slave of the IMF and make the Governor SBP, a viceroy of the monetary agency.

The Opposition Leader said that the current conditions of the IMF regimen pose a serious threat to Pakistan's defense capability and may result in the paralysis of the future government. He demanded that Imran Khan should resign instead of announcing a mini-budget and the government’s coalition partners should stand against this mini-budget in national interest.

He claimed that the approval of the mini-budget would mean enforcing slavery upon Pakistan and its people. He stated that we will join hands with the united opposition and fight against this anti-Pakistan mini-budget and block the way for the government to pass such legislation.

Shehbaz Sharif further said that this mini-budget will sound death bells for the nation which is already suffering from high inflation. Petrol, electricity, gas will become more expensive and the life of the nation will become more impossible, he said adding that increasing poverty has crossed the limits of oppression.

Any tax increase will further destroy businesses and the economy will continue to shrink causing millions to become unemployed, he warned. Inflation is imminent and liberation from this tyrannical rule is the only salvation for the nation, claimed Shehbaz.