ISLAMABAD: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi Sunday accused the federal government of making the speech of Imran Khan’s son at UNHRC controversial to cover up its own failures.
Speaking to a news conference here at the KP House, he pointed out that the speech of PTI founder’s son has been translated into Urdu and it was the feelings of a son for his father, which has nothing to do with politics.
He said it was an expression of concern by a son for his father, and this speech is being misrepresented by linking it with GSP Plus. He insisted that the ‘fake government’ itself is violating the GSP Plus agreement.
“Had our industry been working, the trade deficit would have been reduced. Farmers, students and everyone are in trouble due to the policies of federal government. We caution the rulers against blaming the PTI for the fall in remittances due to the Gulf crisis,” he contended.
He regretted that the ‘imposed rulers’ had trampled all the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and his party people faced direct firing even on holding peaceful protests.
The chief minister charged that not they, but the world bodies had pinpointed corruption to the tune of Rs5,300 billion allegedly done by this government. He also came down hard on the Punjab government for purchasing a jet in a controversial manner.
To a question, he stressed that Pakistan should push for dialogue and peace and desist from becoming a part of the war. “We must be with peace and work for peace. I don’t think, Iran will compromise on its interests. We should also bring peace within the country and focus on progress,” he remarked.
He strongly defended the PTI’s social media and said it was its strength and argued that those who criticised it were not aware of the ground realities.
To another question, he made it clear that the incarcerated party leader had given mandate to the opposition alliance on when to hold dialogue or protest, and that the PTI leadership and workers would fully support its line of action.
He noted that Bushra Bibi, the PTI founder’s wife, also has pain in her eyes but was being allegedly mistreated.
Shafiullah Jan, who is the Special Assistant to the KP CM on Information, challenged the federal government to bring a video clip of the speech of the son of PTI founder in which he demanded the withdrawal of GSP Plus status. He dispelled the impression that any such demand had been made. Shafi Jan said after the ‘petrol bomb’, now they (rulers) were moving towards a smart lockdown.
The aide claimed they (the KP government) will bear the cost of Rs55 per litre on diesel for farmers and remarked, “Compare the performance of the Punjab government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government”.
He decried holding of PSL without spectators and said that double standards were being followed, as the elite could still watch these matches but the public could not. He also flayed the federal government for not observing austerity in letter and spirit.
