Criticizing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders on Saturday claimed that the ruling party had failed to perform in its first five months in power. Addressing a press conference, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb and former finance minister Miftah Ismail lashed out at the government over what they called its poor performance. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the country’s economy was confronting serious threats as the record of obtaining loans had been broken by the present government. “The government does not possess any potential, capability or vision. The ministers do not have any professional understanding … they can only level allegations,” he said. “A solution to gas crisis was told six months back and the matter was not that much difficult to resolve,” he added. “The opposition parties are united in the parliament and their agenda is to reveal the inability of the sitting government. We do not want to abuse anyone but work for the betterment of the country,” Abbasi said. “The matter of the exit control list (ECL) has been toyed. The government is placing names of those in the ECL who they want to threaten. However, the name of allies are being removed from the list,” he alleged. “In PML-N’s tenure, cabinet used to take decision in five minutes. Law of military courts was formed during our government. The government should explain the matter of extension to those. The decision will be taken by the parliament,” he emphasized. Responding to a question on appointment of Justice Asif Saeed Khosa as new chief justice, Abbasi said having expectations from judges is not right as their work is to provide justice to everyone. Speaking about the NRO issue, he said, “The authority to provide NRO resides with the dictator. The prime minister does not have any right to give NRO as per constitution. Nawaz Sharif has attended 185 court hearings so far. Such a person cannot ask for NRO,” he said. Former finance minister Miftah Ismail also bashed the government. “Some 2-8% loss was recorded during the first six months of this fiscal year whereas the amount of loans has also magnified. The growth of economy has decreased and is heading towards negative,” he said. “The performance of private sector has also fallen,” he said. “Second mini-budget is coming. Nothing significant has been done to check the increasing dollar price,” he said. “No change has occurred at PM House as the UAE prince stayed there,” he maintained. Published in Daily Times, January 13th 2019.