ISLAMABAD: Javed Latif demanded his own government must give maximum punishment to those he holds responsible for running the economy and triggering political instability in the country.
Addressing a news briefing, he identified Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as the person responsible for the fragile condition of the economy and demanded the former prime minister “must be exposed and punished”.
The minister claimed Khan was imposed on the nation in 2018 when the economy was performing exceptionally well and Pakistan was thriving, but it tanked during the three-year rule of his PTI party.
A former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, was disqualified to pave way for Khan, he declared. However, the experience of promoting the former cricket legend failed and this should be rectified by bringing Sharif back after seeking an apology from him, the minister thundered.
“Sharif was disqualified on ‘flimsy grounds’ to pave way for Khan who left the government after laying landmines for the new government.”
After spending a year in prison, Sharif, 72, secured a conditional one-month bail in November 2019 to travel to London on the pretext of medical treatment but has since refused to return.
The nation was paying the price of the “incapable government” of PTI in the shape of burgeoning inflation and price hike, he said, adding the nation was perturbed that he was being facilitated even now.
