Peshawar: PTI Chairman and ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday expressed “regret” that “unfortunately” neither the Nizam-e-Insaf nor the country’s protectors have given PML-N leader Ishaq Dar the “status of a senator”. “Prevented” from swearing in, which will now pave the way. To become the country’s next finance minister, he added that the national treasury has been handed over to a “fugitive”.
Dar was sworn in as a senator on Tuesday and will take charge of the finance ministry on (today) Wednesday.
The PML-N leader – a senator-elect – visited the UK in October 2017 while he was on trial in a corruption reference.
Last week, the accountability court had suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant against him. He returned home on Monday to once again take charge of the Finance Ministry.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif nominated Dar as the Finance Minister of his government just as Miftah Ismail announced his resignation from the post.
Addressing the Ulama and Mashaikh convention at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar, Imran criticized Dar and said that the national treasury has been handed over to a “fugitive”.
Speaking metaphorically, the PTI chief said that “the sheep have been given over to the wolf”.
“Unfortunately, neither Nizam-e-Insaf nor those who claim to be protectors of the country can block Dar’s path. God willing, your brother Imran Khan will block his path.
Imran claimed that his government at the Center was ousted by a foreign conspiracy, adding that “thieves were imposed on the nation”.
He said that after 17 years under the PTI government, the country which was on the path to rapid development is now on the verge of bankruptcy. “During the fourth year [of the PTI government] our GDP was six percent.”
Describing the Muslim League (N) and the People’s Party as “two mafia families”, the former prime minister said they had “destroyed” the country and blamed them for sky-high inflation.
PPP co-chairman Zardari and Sharif family have billions of rupees lying abroad. “The ‘thieves’ government claimed to reduce prices in five months [but] inflation in the country is at a 50-year high,” he said.
“We sold oil at a low price even though it was $115 [per barrel] in the international market but today it is $90 [per barrel] and still selling for Rs 250 [per litre].”
Imran said that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif submitted his “false” medical reports to flee Pakistan.
He vowed to launch a Haqi Azadi March (True Freedom Movement) against the “rule of thieves” soon, saying that people from all over the country would participate in it. Our struggle will continue till the last breath of life.
Condemning the JUIF chief, the PTI chief said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman preached religion for his “personal gain” and “election orders can be taken from him in exchange for power”.
The PTI chairman said that the price of palm oil in the international market was 1000 to 1700 dollars but it is being sold at a much higher price in the country.
He lamented that prices of daily necessities like flour and rice were becoming beyond the reach of the common man and added that 50 percent of mobile phone and vehicle manufacturing plants had closed down.
