While Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday called for government’s allies to part ways with the ruling party and to bring about a vote of no-confidence to send the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) packing, the party also summoned a meeting of the opposition at Parliament House on Monday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Iqbal accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of deceiving the public. He added that government will not be able to collect taxes, and now that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has postponed the review of its agreement with Pakistan, “this is a great opportunity for us”.
Separately, according to a statement issued by the PML-N spokesperson, Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif will preside over a meeting at Parliament House at 3 pm, with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other parliamentarians in attendance.
The statement said that the core agenda of the meeting would be to discuss the finance bill, among other issues, besides devising a strategy to prevent the mini-budget from being approved by the parliament.
Iqbal, in his statement, said, “Today, I want to appeal to the allies of the government, Pakistan has a unique opportunity.”
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“If MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement), PML-Q (Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid), and GDA (Grand Democratic Alliance) are concerned about the people of Pakistan and the country’s sovereignty, then separate from the government,” he continued.
He further said that once the government is replaced, Pakistan can request the IMF to review this agreement as the existing agreement is based on the “incompetence” and “failure” of this government. He also linked IMF’s strict conditions with government’s domestic failures.
Referring to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) autonomy, Iqbal said that Pakistan’s sovereignty is at stake, something the government’s allies should oppose along with inflation.
He hoped that MQM, PML-Q and GDA will reconsider their relationship with the government.
Commenting on the gas crisis, he said that he predicted it in October 2021, and now he is warning of the “worst wheat crisis” in Pakistan. He compared his party’s government with the incumbent government, saying that the Pakistan they left behind was “self-sufficient”.
Commenting on political matters, the PML-N senior leader said that 10 months ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan mentioned the extension of the current army chief. The appointment of the army chief takes place in the last three months, before which talking about the extension is a political card, he added.
“This is another dangerous card game,” Iqbal said, adding that his party condemns speaking about extensions before they are due.
He further said that Pakistan’s army is a professional body, a national body, and the government must bear the burden of its “incompetence” instead of involving institutions and “playing a vicious game”.
He added that PM Imran would have to answer for his “corruption” and his performance.
Regarding the foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Iqbal said that the case exposes “Imran Khan’s truth”. He said that it has been “proved” that the premier gave false certificates to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He accused him of collecting donations for Pakistanis and adding them to his personal accounts. He also accused him of “rewarding” donors for their “good deeds”. He also claimed that the hotel contract is a bribe to the donor.
The PML-N leader also commented on the catastrophe in Murree, saying that the Meteorological Department had issued a weather alert and warning of heavy snowfall but the government continued to applaud the arrival of tourists to the hill station.
He pointed out that more than 100,000 vehicles were allowed to pass through the toll plaza but the government was still blaming the tourists.
Read more PTI seeks to shift blame for gas crisis
He also said that it was sad that while tourists were stranded in Murree, the entire leadership of the ruling PTI was busy with party matters in Lahore. “The chief minister should have rushed to the spot immediately,” he said.
He said that this was a sign that the government neither has the administrative capacity nor any interest in running the country.
He categorically said that Pakistan has fallen into the depths of economic, administrative, political, diplomatic and social crises.
Separately, Shehbaz also expressed grave concern over the situation in Murree, saying that instead of making statements, the government should take effective measures to rescue those stranded in the hill station.
He also paid tribute to the armed forces who conducted the rescue operation.
The opposition leaders also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who passed away in the Murree calamity.
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