Ministers scoff at calls for 'in-house change'

The ruling party ministers on Sunday set off a new acrimonious chapter against the opposition as it dropped startling claims that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif was “begging for a deal” for four members of his family, and sought to pin the blame for soaring prices on Nawaz Sharif.

The feisty tone and finger-pointing came as the inflation once again becomes the rallying cry of the opposition parties – a battle line they seize on to oust the Imran Khan-led government. 

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the soaring inflation and economic woes facing the country were one of the lingering symptoms of policies undertaken by the former premier Nawaz Sharif.

He claimed that inflation was a by-product of the massive record loans borrowed by PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) governments during their respective tenures. From 1947 to 2008, Rs6 trillion loans were taken by the Pakistani government, but from 2008 to 2018, the PPP and PML-N governments took loans worth Rs23 trillion, he said, adding that the PTI has paid $32 billion in debt servicing after coming into power.

According to Fawad, former PM Nawaz Sharif was living in one of the most expensive properties in London whereas former president Asif Ali Zardari rents out the most expensive apartments during his visits to London. The federal minister explained that the salaried class was being crushed under inflation because they didn’t get increments. “When expenditures exceed the income then inflation seems high.”

‘PTI to win next general elections’

The federal minister appeared sanguine about the prospects of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coming to power once again in 2023 as he criticised the opposition parties over their "futile" anti-government protests, noting that the opposition was divided. He remarked that except for the ruing PTI, no political party will be able to field its candidates on all seats -- 1,100 in total -- in the next general elections.

READ Shehbaz lashes out at govt over hike in petrol price

Speaking about health cards, he said that the Sehat Insaf Card will end discrimination in the health sector. He urged the private sector to invest in the healthcare sector for its betterment. The health card will benefit the working and middle-class segments the most, he added.

‘Govt unbothered by opposition’s tactics’

Joining the chorus of fellow party ministers, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also sought to allay the jitters about inflation as he countered the opposition’s narrative about the surge in prices. 

He said that inflation was a “temporary phenomenon” which the ruling party would successfully tame before 2023. “The government is not indifferent to people and well aware of their hardships.”

“We are fighting crises with determination. No matter how much the opposition marches, there will be no in-house change or end to the government. The opposition will face defeat.” The democratic government of PTI will complete its term, the top diplomat remarked. He expressed satisfaction and hinted that the PTI government’s intentions were positive. “The present government has a credit for not having any corruption scandal”.

He observed that the government was striving hard to address public problems. The global economy has also been in crisis for the past two years due to coronavirus. He however maintained that difficulties were temporary.

READ Shehbaz seeking deal for four members of Sharif family: Gill

‘Shahbaz asked for deal for four family members'

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill claimed that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif had "asked for a deal for four people" of his family. Addressing the media in Faisalabad on Sunday, Gill said under the proposed deal a “pardon” had been sought for PML-N leaders — Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif.

Without sharing specifics and evidence of the claims, Gill claimed that the deal had been sought for PML-N supremo Nawaz, Maryam, Shahbaz, and his son Hamza. "This is the last plea that Shahbaz has made — an offer consisting of four people, and the promise that even Maryam won't engage in politics," said Gill. He added that the PML-N president had also pledged that they will fly to London if his ‘proposal’ was accepted.

The PM’s aide said the PML-N leaders were anxious to flee the country. “But Prime Minister Imran Khan will not let them escape and they all will go to jail,” he added. He said that Shehbaz will be put behind bars very soon, claiming that a suspicious transaction of Rs4 billion had been traced recently from the bank account of the PML-N leader’s peon.

"We won't even give you a boiled potato, and here you are asking for a chicken burger deal," he added. 

The premier’s aide further claimed that he held three meetings with Nawaz during the latter’s hospitalisation in Pakistan. “He would beg for permission to allow him to let go".