Taking a dig at Premier Imran Khan for his popular catchphrase ‘Ghabrana Nahi Hai (Do not worry)’, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that it was high time to be worried and send the government packing.
Blasting the government for its policies “taking the country to the brink of destruction”, Shehbaz said the Naya Pakistan (New Pakistan) of PTI government’s era was in fact far behind the ‘Purana (Old) Pakistan’.
Addressing a rally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a multiparty alliance of the opposition — in Swat, Shehbaz Sharif said a revolution was needed against poverty, inflation, oppression and the current system. It was the first public gathering of the PDM in several months as attempts were reportedly underway by the PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl to revive the alliance and unite all opposition forces especially after the PPP quit it in the mid of April. He said instead of giving jobs to the people thousands of people were rendered jobless due to failed policies of the government. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had vowed to bring prosperity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but “all his promises had turned out to be hollow.” He said he was surprised that what prompted KP people to vote Khan into power.
About current loadshedding in many parts of country, he said that PML-N had ended the loadshedding throughout the country by continuous efforts; however the failed economic policies of PTI once again pushed the country into darkness.
Hitting out at the prime minister for his recent statement on nuclear weapons, Shehbaz said “atomic power is our defence. The enemy who wanted to raze us is now scared just because it knows we can trample it.” “If you do not vote this government out, it will destroy the country,” he alleged. He said the PML-N in collaboration with PDM will take KP ahead of Punjab. Sharif said the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project often faced different issues and alleged that several billion rupees were looted under this project in Peshawar.
He also criticised the government for getting most of the Covid-19 vaccines in the country through donations, saying it was due to its unwise policies that the country had been left “at the mercy of others”.
He recalled that medicines were provided free of charge to people across Punjab during PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, saying a hospital built by the PML-N in Lahore was made a central vaccination centre by the PTI. He further said that the PML-N government’s efforts had led to the production of 14,000MW electricity through different sources which helped the country overcome the loadshedding crisis. Sharif said Prime Minister Imran had claimed that his government would build 350 mini dams across KP to provide people with cheaper electricity, “but they are nowhere to be found”.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his address called the government “illegitimate”and said it should quit in the greater interest of the public. He said he had been insisting for a long time that “Imran Khan is an unnecessary component” of Pakistani politics. Referring to the recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, he claimed that the premier had not been invited to the important huddle, “and that showed the actual worth of his government”.
He said such governments should not be imposed on independent people. “Our ancestors fought against the British rule and we will not accept this government,” he added.
He claimed that the government’s days were numbered, and alleged that Prime Minister Imran spoke against the United States and United Kingdom in some of his speeches “only to popularise himself among the public”.
“But I must say that he is a ‘fired cartridge’ that has no life,” he alleged.
He mocked the premier for speaking against former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, saying “it was the same man who supported Musharraf when he was in power.”
