Senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday termed the incumbent government as a threat to the country and said that they promised paradise in Naya Pakistan but have “pushed people into hell”. Addressing the media in Islamabad along with former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former defence minister Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal said, “People are suffering owing to the hike in gas and electricity prices.” “This [PTI] government is the least popular in the popularity vote,” he added. “In the Naya Pakistan film they promised people heaven but pushed them into hell.” Taking a hit at Prime Minister Imran Khan, Abbasi said, “You said that you will accumulate revenue of Rs190 billion and that people will shower taxes after looking at you. You claimed that people trust you and you collect funds, but in the first quarter after you assumed power, the deficit rose by Rs100 billion.” “We spent Rs122 billion to buy land for the dam and that too has now become a nightmare. You chanted ‘dam dam’ and made a fool of the nation,” he continued. “This government is a threat to the nation and the economy has suffered a loss of Rs700-Rs1,000 billion. The money that came from China and Saudi Arabia was used up in the deficit they caused.” Also speaking on the occasion, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, “The arrest of Sindh Assembly speaker without any proof is unwarranted and an attack on democracy. This is not a personal matter of Agha Siraj Durrani but that of a sitting speaker.” Stating that “no one has reservations with inquiries”, Abbasi said, “No evidence has been found against Saad Rafique as yet. The National Assembly speaker should issue Rafique’s production orders as it is his right to represent his constituency.” The former premier continued, “The government should summon meetings on the economy on Saturday and Sundays as well. The nation should know that the incumbent is economically oppressing them.” “There was no need for a hike in electricity and gas prices,” he said while adding that they are not getting a chance to raise the issue of inflation in the Parliament. Former defence minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the media and said, “The prime minister directed his members to lie so much that people start believing it is the truth.” “The premier is saying that the previous [PML-N] government should be blamed for all issues. PM Imran’s ego is higher than the Himalayas. We want to save the system and want it to run but the government has no such intention. PM Imran’s government is just standing on lies”, Asif said. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2019.