Petrol crisis: PTI asks govt to resign

Dr Shireen Mazari says premier should have fired petroleum minister

ISLAMABAD:

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday joined the chorus of criticism of the government over the persisting petrol shortages and demanded that the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and his cabinet members step down.

“The prime minister and his cabinet should resign,” PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari said at a news conference. “No one from the government has taken responsibility for the fuel crisis. The minister [for petroleum] should have resigned or the prime minister should have fired him,” she added.



PTI’s demand came a day after a government inquiry committee blamed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority for the crisis and virtually absolved all the government ministers of responsibility.

“This is a ghost government,” remarked Dr Mazari. “The prime minister and the federal minister [for petroleum] are enjoying perks and privileges and doing nothing.” She feared the fuel shortages would engender an electricity crisis as the country’s furnace oil reserves were about to dry up.

Dr Mazari said the government has abdicated its authority over the past few months and hence has no reason to stay in power. “The ISPR [military’s media wing] is issuing statements on war against terrorism while it is the responsibility of the information ministry,”
she added. “The government has done nothing for the implementation of the National Action Plan against terrorism except for holding meetings while the army has played its role,” she added.

Resignation from assemblies

Responding to a question about the acceptance of resignations of PTI’s legislators in the Sindh Assembly, Dr Mazari said that “it will be followed by the acceptance of resignations of PTI’s lawmakers in Punjab and national assemblies.”

She reiterated that PTI’s lawmakers would not return to provincial or federal legislatures unless the party’s demand for a judicial inquiry into the alleged electoral fraud was ordered. “The government has backtracked on a commitment that it would constitute a judicial commission,” she added.

Asked about the status of dialogue with the government, Dr Mazari said talks were moving forward as the government has shown some flexibility. “The government has shown flexibility because it knows well that the PTI has street power,” she added.

About PTI’s plan for the upcoming Senate elections, Dr Mazari said, “The matter will be taken up by the party’s core committee once Chairman Imran Khan returns from Umrah,” she said.

She dismissed as mere coincidence the presence of Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri in Saudi Arabia at the time when the PTI chairman and vice chairman are visiting the kingdom.

Imran Khan and his wife Reham Khan have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, while Shah Mehmmod Qureshi has gone separately along with his family.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2015.