LAHORE: Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has expressed serious concern over the rapidly rising terrorism incidents across the country, saying that “incompetent rulers” have miserably failed to protect the lives and property of the people.
“After the economic crisis, there has been an extraordinary increase in the incidents of terrorism in the country,” he said while chairing a meeting of the party leadership in Lahore on Monday.
The PTI leader deliberated at length on crucial matters including the overall political situation in the country, deteriorating economic conditions, and rising terrorism.
The former prime minister said that the “corrupt, dishonest and incompetent rulers responsible for the economic chaos have now miserably failed to protect the lives and property of the people”.
“Eight months ago, the country was economically stable while terrorism was practically over. These corrupt and dishonest people at the helm of affairs were given the power to play with the economy and national security and award themselves with NRO-2,” he added.
“In recent days, the country has seen a 52% increase in terrorism incidents in which 270 people have died and more than 550 were injured. I had warned of the consequences before my government was changed through a conspiracy. Since the last eight months, we have continuously warned that the imposed, corrupt, and incompetent rulers were pushing the nation towards disaster,” Imran said.
According to him, independent economic experts were suggesting that Pakistan was facing a very serious situation and added that a two-fold increase in the price of flour would most likely deprive millions of poor people of food.
“After ruining the economy, the imported government failed to provide security, which is very worrying. Despite America’s withdrawal from the region, our government shielded the nation from its fallout with the best diplomatic strategy,” he added.
He was of the view that leaving national security at the mercy of “immature” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was criminal negligence.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in the country and we will strongly resist any attempt to lead the nation to a major disaster,” he added.
He reiterated his demand for snap polls, which in his opinion was the only way to save the country from destruction. “Only a government with a public mandate in the true sense will be able to manage the economy and control terrorism”.
During the meeting, the PTI leaders discussed the strategy for the resignations of the PTI members of the National Assembly.
The meeting condemned National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for going on a foreign trip, knowing that the PTI MNAs were coming to meet him to verify their resignations. The participants termed the speaker’s act as an “insult” to the parliament.
On this occasion, former finance minister and head of the PTI economic team Shaukat Tareen briefed the meeting about the impact of the increase in the prices of food items, especially flour, on the common man. The PTI leaders also showed concern over the United States and the European Union’s travel advisories for their citizens.
Meanwhile, as per the sources, the PTI chairman was briefed by his legal team on the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly in light of the Lahore High Court verdict. He was told that the Punjab Assembly cannot be dissolved before January 11, as the matter has been conditionally attached to the court’s verdict.
The legal experts further informed the former premier that the legal status of a no-confidence motion also ended after Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan’s ruling. They were of the opinion that Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman has to ask Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi again to take a vote of confidence from the house.
White paper on economy
Later, addressing the media, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that his party was going to issue a white paper on the country’s economic situation.
The PTI chairman has summoned a meeting of the economic experts wherein the country’s economic situation will be discussed in detail and the white paper will be issued by the party based on the proposals of the economic experts, he added.
He went on to say that the PTI has formed working groups for basic reforms, which will prepare the proposals on the country’s economy and governance. “The PTI believed that after getting rid of the current rulers, the country could not get out of the quagmire without major reforms,” he added.
Talking about the meeting of the party’s senior leadership, he disclosed that it was also attended by PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi and the leaders were very clear on the strategy for the Punjab Assembly’s dissolution. “We have decided on the date for Punjab’s parliamentary party meeting, which will be revealed in due course of time. All of our 187 MPAs will attend the meeting,” he added.
He also expressed confidence that elections would be held in April as the country was moving towards ‘snap polls’.
