ISLAMABAD: Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) claimed on Thursday that the incumbent government was facing failures on economic front, coupled with zero reforms, leading to petrol bombs on masses.
The TTAP leaders, addressing a news conference here, came down hard on the government for keeping parliament and people in the dark on key foreign policy decisions.
“We have seen rulers’ performance in the form of petrol bombs due to a lack of reforms and the damage due to the crisis in the Middle East, whereas the government has put Rs20 billion in the pockets of companies by increasing petrol prices prematurely,” charged Taimur Saleem Jhagra, who also served as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa finance minister.
He wondered that while countries like Russia and China have oil reserves for months, why couldn’t Pakistan keep them and this way, the government has put the country’s economy at risk. “If sacrifices are being asked from the public, then rulers should also set an example. There should be transparency on government expenses and privileges,” he insisted.
Referring to hard economic conditions and inflation, Jhagra said the Punjab government’s multi-billion plane and the chairman Senate’s car worth Rs90 million “show reforms and simplicity being adopted by the rulers”.
He contended that seasoned journalist Muhammad Malick’s 17 questions about the plane should be answered. “What is this national security issue that the programme was taken off air? Why was the 17-question section deleted on YouTube; it needs to be explained,” he argued.
Jhagra stressed that public questions could not be made into a matter of national security and added it was the right of every citizen to question the use of state resources. He decried the fact that exports have decreased by 33 percent this year while the confidence of foreign and local investors has been lost.
Jhagra asked why the government is making the health of PTI founder controversial and said the solution to this issue is this: the founder of PTI should be shifted to Shifa International Hospital and his family and personal doctors should be given access to him. “The way Nawaz Sharif spent his imprisonment is in front of everyone. Since August last year, the party founder has been talking about visa for his sons.” The opposition alliance spokesman, Akhunzada Hussain, expressed grave concern over the present state of affairs between Pakistan and Afghanistan and asked, “Are we attacking Afghanistan in the same way as we attacked our enemy India? This war cannot be successful unless the trust of the people is gained”.
He pointed out that the opposition had offered cooperation to the government on the issue of Afghanistan. He wondered if Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue to burn in this war until the end of times.
“We were assured that a joint session of parliament will be summoned, but it was not. But we welcome the ceasefire with Afghanistan. This should not be a temporary ceasefire but a permanent ceasefire,” he maintained. The TTAP spokesman lauded China and said the opposition alliance also supports its positive role.
Citing the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, he said that this extremely worrying situation has caused unemployment to millions so far. He praised the resolve of the people of Iran and remarked, “We should learn from the Iranian nation, as they are standing firm in the face of aggression while questions have started to be raised in the US parliament on the war against Iran”.
“Neither parliament nor people have any knowledge about the role of Pakistan with regards to this conflict,” he contended.
