Political stalemate: ‘PTI, PAT have pushed Pakistan to the brink’
Malik says federal ministries have stopped functioning.
LAHORE:
National Assembly Member Pervez Malik said on Tuesday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri had shown the world what they were capable of doing by pushing the country to the brink.
He said sit-ins had greatly damaged the economy. Malik said this was part of a pre-meditated conspiracy aimed at hollowing the country’s foundations. Malik said Qadri and Khan had no regard for the supremacy of the parliament. He said they had used every tactic at their disposal to destabilise Pakistan.
Malik said the international community had accepted the validity of the last general elections. Malik said events of the past 17 days had resulted in Rs800 billion losses to the economy.
He said losses in the national stock exchange alone had amounted to Rs350 billion. Malik said federal ministries had ceased to function because of the antics of PTI and PAT activists. He said business activity had come to a standstill as work at the Finance Ministry and the Trade and Commerce Ministry had come to a halt.
Malik said daily-wage labourers in Islamabad were starving due to the political impasse. He said economic indicators had taken an alarming turn because of the crisis. Malik said the dollar had appreciated against the rupee which had increased Pakistan’s debt burden.
He said PTI president Javed Hashmi’s confessions had revealed that Khan and Qadri did not wish Pakistan well. Malik said they had been conspiring to jeopardise the democratic process.
Malik said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had left no stone unturned to restore and strengthen democracy.
He said containers had been placed to impede the efforts of some elements who wanted to spread anarchy in Pakistan. Malik said the government was acting with exemplary restraint to save lives.
He said this should not be construed as a sign of weakness.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2014.
National Assembly Member Pervez Malik said on Tuesday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri had shown the world what they were capable of doing by pushing the country to the brink.
He said sit-ins had greatly damaged the economy. Malik said this was part of a pre-meditated conspiracy aimed at hollowing the country’s foundations. Malik said Qadri and Khan had no regard for the supremacy of the parliament. He said they had used every tactic at their disposal to destabilise Pakistan.
Malik said the international community had accepted the validity of the last general elections. Malik said events of the past 17 days had resulted in Rs800 billion losses to the economy.
He said losses in the national stock exchange alone had amounted to Rs350 billion. Malik said federal ministries had ceased to function because of the antics of PTI and PAT activists. He said business activity had come to a standstill as work at the Finance Ministry and the Trade and Commerce Ministry had come to a halt.
Malik said daily-wage labourers in Islamabad were starving due to the political impasse. He said economic indicators had taken an alarming turn because of the crisis. Malik said the dollar had appreciated against the rupee which had increased Pakistan’s debt burden.
He said PTI president Javed Hashmi’s confessions had revealed that Khan and Qadri did not wish Pakistan well. Malik said they had been conspiring to jeopardise the democratic process.
Malik said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had left no stone unturned to restore and strengthen democracy.
He said containers had been placed to impede the efforts of some elements who wanted to spread anarchy in Pakistan. Malik said the government was acting with exemplary restraint to save lives.
He said this should not be construed as a sign of weakness.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2014.