In his latest anti-establishment rhetoric, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Asad Umar has said that “there is no sign of neutrality in the county”.
Addressing a joint press conference along with former finance minister Shaukat Tareen on Friday, Umar said that efforts are on to change the loyalties of the legislators belonging to the PTI.
“Our MNAs and MPAs have told us that they are being approached. They are being told that their future is not with the PTI,” he claimed.
Turning his guns on the PDM coalition government, the senior PTI leader said the nation had seen a tsunami of inflation in the last nine months. He further said that inflation is at historic levels today.
“You have pushed [the country’s] economy into a ditch. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have sunk for three weeks.
Referring to the current economic crisis facing the county, the former finance minister said it has become a matter of national security rather than an economic issue. “Who is responsible for this? Who will be accountable to the nation?
The PTI leader said the country had been brought to this stage through a regime change operation, adding that the current crisis arose because “you have distorted the democratic process” which was running smoothly. was
Umar gave his arguments behind the current economic crisis, saying that an elected prime minister with 156 seats was sent packing and an unelected government was brought in.
In response to a question regarding the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he warned that if the elections are not held within 90 days, Article 6 of the Constitution will be applied.
He further said that the present government is deviating from the constitution by not announcing the schedule of elections in the provinces.
The PTI leader further said that an application has been filed in the Lahore High Court. He further said that another petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of caretaker chief minister in Punjab.
He said that the whole nation is looking towards the courts.
In response to another question, the former finance czar said that the devaluation of the local unit further increased the circular debt. “They [coalition government] will have to announce general elections in the country in this situation.”
IMF is talking about new taxes of Rs 3.2 trillion
On his behalf, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen said that due to the falling value of the rupee, the country’s debt increased by four and a half trillion rupees during the last two days. He added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging the government to impose new taxes of Rs 3.2 trillion.
He warned that the public would have to bear a heavy burden in connection with the proposed deal with the IMF. “The prices of petrol and diesel will also increase.”
Tareen added: “Circular debt is increasing by Rs 123 billion per month,”
The former finance czar said the government will have to increase electricity prices due to debt. A tsunami of inflation is hovering in the country.
“Muftah and Dar lied to the nation,” Tareen said and predicted that the country’s economic growth rate would remain negative during the current fiscal year.
