Pakistan not far from its ‘Lanka moment’, warns Imran

PTI chief questions why institutions allowed Zardari Sharif mafia to plunder country

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday sounded alarms over the country’s economy teetering on the edge of a major turmoil, questioning for how long the ‘state institutions’ would allow the “Zardari-Sharif mafia” to ‘plunder’ the country.

The former prime minister took to his official Twitter handle to claim that the Zardari -Sharif “mafia” has bought the country to its knees politically and economically “simply to save their illegally accumulated wealth amassed over 30 years of plundering Pakistan”.

Imran warned that the country was not far from a "Sri Lanka moment" when the people of Pakistan would pour out into the streets.

“I can say with certainty after my interaction with our nation and their response to my call for Haqeeqi Azadi that [the] people of Pakistan have had enough”, he wrote, adding that the populace would not allow these “mafias to continue their loot and plunder”.

Imran’s statement comes against the backdrop of worsening economic woes, record-high depreciation of the currency and dwindling foreign reserves.

Is it noteworthy that in a desperate attempt to save the country from default through the emergency sale of state’s assets to foreign countries, the federal cabinet has also approved an ordinance to bypass all the procedures for the process and also abolished regulatory checks including the applicability of six relevant laws.

A day earlier, shocked at the surprise win of Hamza Shehbaz in the election for Punjab chief minister post, Imran Khan urged his workers and supporters, particularly the youth, to stage peaceful protests on Friday night.

“I am in shock at what happened in the Punjab Assembly today,” Imran said while addressing the people. “Get everyone out of your homes and register your protest tonight,” he said. “People should protest, but don't take the law into your hand, stay peaceful,” he added.

Imran fired a broadside against Zardari, charging him with “using stolen money in every election” and “buying democracy”.