Imran sees food crisis if farmers ignored

Former premier also hints at possibility of snap polls; slams ‘imported govt’ for inflation

ISLAMABAD:

Renewing his tirade against the incumbent government over soaring fuel prices, former prime minister Imran Khan has said the United States had imposed the present regime on the people to toe its policies, describing the current setup as American slaves who dare not buy oil on concessional rates from Russia as arch rival India did.

Addressing participants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf farmers' convention, Imran Khan said the government was not brought to power for the country's betterment.

"India bought oil from Russia on 40% cheaper rate and reduced the price of petrol and diesel by Rs25 in the country," the PTI chairman said.

The former prime minister also raised questions about the sudden hike in fuel prices, saying what has happened in the two months that petrol prices were raised by Rs60 per litre along with increase in electricity and gas tariff.

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"The inflation seen in these two months was never witnessed in the last three years," the PTI chief said, adding that he hoped that elections would be held soon.

He accused the government of abolishing the National Accountability Bureau, whose powers were clipped by parliament through recent amendments in the accountability law.

He said now the government was onto the Federal Investigation Agency where it was appointing its 'own people'.

Imran said the present government began raising prices of everyday essentials upon coming into power. He warned of a food security crisis in the country if no attention was paid to condition of farmers.

He enumerated the measures his government had taken to improve yield of crops. "We gave a subsidy of Rs132 billion on urea fertiliser which resulted in farmers giving a record production," Imran said, adding that cotton production was increased by 17 per cent. A jump was also seen in the production of cereals and potato crop.

Also read: All eyes on ‘neutrals’, top court amid economic, political chaos: Imran

The PTI chairman said the present government had come into power on a single agenda of carrying out only what Washington ordered them to do. He said the Russia-Ukraine war had hit wheat exports leading to threat of famine in many countries of the world.

The former prime minister claimed that the Chief Election Commissioner was taking orders from Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, and his cousin and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz. "Both of the leaders want to rig elections with the help of the Election Commission," he said, accusing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of controlling another constitutional institution of NAB.