Imran foresees PML-N-led govt failing in handling economic crisis

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday predicted that the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will completely fail in steering the country out of the prevailing economic crisis, saying he had advised "neutrals" – a tacit reference to the establishment – to not let the economy derail.

“I had asked the neutrals to not let the economy derail,” Imran said while speaking during a question and answer session on social media.

Now, he added, you can see that remittances are on a decline while exports plunged by 10 per cent in May 2022. He added that the situation would only get worsened.

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According to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman, the incumbent rulers had no idea how they could pull the country out of the crises.

He voiced fears that the country was heading towards a “Sri Lanka-like bankruptcy”, even if the rulers succeeded in securing some financial support from a foreign country.

Turning his guns towards the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PTI chairman alleged that the electoral authority wanted to re-elect Hamza Shehbaz as the Punjab chief minister.

He further alleged that the commission was not filling the vacant reserved seats and were waiting for the Punjab by-elections so that they could carry out “rigging”.

He said, “We know very well that ECP officials are meeting and dealing with Hamza and Maryam for this purpose.”

Imran added that he deemed the development a humiliation for the parliamentary system of governance.

Imran said ECP in collusion with PML-N wanted a favourable de-limitation of constituencies in Punjab for the elections of its choice.

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The former premier also criticised the ruling party for raising a hue and cry over inflation during his tenure, pointing at the “sky-rocketing inflation taking place now”.

‘Intervention or conspiracy?’

The PTI chief also sought to differentiate between ‘intervention’ and ‘conspiracy’, saying his regime was conspired against, followed by an intervention.

He asked for an ‘open court hearing’ into the matter to prevent anyone from indulging in an “act of treason” in the future.

Khan claimed that the PTI dealt with several issues during its government with “sagacity and tact”.

“We dealt with a potential bankruptcy, plus we quite successfully dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic and the same was acknowledged by foreign countries.”

While responding to a question, Imran Khan once again warned the police officials involved in “thrashing PTI activists” in connection with the Haqeeqi Azadi March.

“We will ask them about the law they followed to carry-out such actions,” he remarked.