ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday questioned the government’s claims of economic stability, saying if friendly countries withdrew their deposited money, Pakistan would default.
Addressing a news conference here, the TTAP leaders criticised the government for the “economic mess” and its flawed policies, further compounding the issues. They also decried the arrest of senior politicians and media blackout of missing persons from Balochistan. “When the UAE asked for $3.5 billion, panic began in Pakistan; if friendly countries ask for their money back, the country will default,” ex-governor and opposition alliance leader Muhammad Zubair said. He pointed out that the last resort for the national economy to move forward was support from friendly countries; the country’s total reserves stand at $16 billion, of which $12.5 billion come from these countries.
The former governor maintained that the success of economy depends on GDP, whereas in the last four years, GDP performance had been the worst in the country. He regretted that foreign investment had fallen to its lowest level since 1974.
The worrying factor, he underlined, was investment; the companies that had been operating in Pakistan for 50 years have left, while they continue to operate in other countries in the region.
He contended that the current government came in April 2022 and that four years was a long time; however, despite repeated assurances from ministers about improvements, the situation had not improved.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the common man was suffering due to inflation, while the “system of lies” had completed four years on Wednesday, and the 2024 election was stolen. He expressed serious concern over the state of Pakistan’s economy and saw no hope of it being put on the path to stability.
“We request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to hear the appeal cases. Even if Imran Khan is a common prisoner, he cannot be deprived of medical facilities,” he maintained. He added that the high court had ordered a meeting, but the order was not implemented. After November, he noted, the family of PTI founder was not allowed to meet him. He claimed that the current situation of the judiciary was due to the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments.
TTAP Secretary General, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, said the founder was not receiving his rights and was being treated very badly. “The PTI founder is not getting his rights; for us, making this country a republic has become a challenge. When members come to the legislatures without people’s vote, they will legislate according to the whims of powerful,” he contended.
He insisted that there should be elected representatives of the people in parliament and claimed that when the PTI government was toppled, economic conditions were better than today, while now even farmers and workers are worried.
KP ex-finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra said that in the backdrop of the Middle East war, countries in the region, Europe and elsewhere were reviewing their policies. He cited China, India and Europe as examples of regions reviewing economic and defence ties with the United States. However, he lamented that no such exercise was being carried out in Pakistan and that there was a lack of political stability, which could only be achieved through a conducive environment.
Senior leader of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), ex-senator Sanaullah Baloch, noted that the political and economic situation was extremely bad and had worsened following the 2024 general elections. He emphasised that for economic and political stability, the supremacy and implementation of the Constitution and rule of law were of utmost importance.
“For this, holding free and transparent polls is the key, but unfortunately, the last elections were massively rigged,” he charged.
