Daily Times

Slamming the government over rising inflation in the country, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Tuesday urged the incumbent government to either provide relief to the masses or go home as ‘economic slaughtering’ of the people cannot be tolerated any more.

“Since PTI came into power, every sector has been facing troubles,” the PPP chairman said while addressing the National Assembly. Gesturing at the empty government seats in the assembly, Bilawal said that the empty seats are a testament to the seriousness of the government with regard to the affairs of the state. He said that poverty and inflation were already prevalent in the country before the current government took over but after their ascension to power, things have gone from bad to worse. “A helpless parliament is discussing inflation when the common citizen questions the government on whether they should feed their child or pay exorbitant gas and electricity bills,” he said. “The prime minister should own up to his severe miscalculation on the affairs of the state and step down,” he demanded.

The PPP chairman claimed that the federal government has tried to sabotage the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and label it as their own under pseudonyms. He accused the government of compromising on ‘economic independence’ in front of the IMF, saying that he remembers how PM Imran used to say in the past that corruption causes inflation in the country. “The prime minister should tell us about the corruption taking place in the country,” he said. “Or he should accept what we say. That he is incapable and selected and will have to go home to provide relief to the masses,” he added.

Bilawal lashed out at PTI’s political allies in Sindh, saying that they are involved in removing Benazir Bhutto’s name from the BISP after many favours she had bestowed on them in the past. “She [Benazir] made someone’s sister a senator and made someone the speaker,” he said, criticising the PTI’s allies in Sindh for siding with the government and ditching the PPP.

PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Asif said the PTI government has turned Pakistan into a refuge for the wheat and sugar mafias. “Those who gained the most from ongoing the sugar crisis are the current government’s patrons. They are also known as the architects of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration,” he added.

The PML-N leader said that his party will not be part of any conspiracy to bring change in the House. He reminded the House about his previous statement that ‘this wrestler will fall from his own weight’ and said that times are changing for PTI as media which used to give eight hours a day to PTI is now talking about inflation in the country.

Federal Minister for Postal Services and Communication Murad Saeed rebutted the address by Bilawal Bhutto. He said those who ascended atop the political strata of the country by means of a ‘will’ or a ‘note of recommendation’ are busy ridiculing the current regime for their shortcomings while taking no responsibility for their actions when they ruled Pakistan and destroyed its base.

Many of the opposition leaders present in the parliament started to walk out when Murad Saeed addressed the House. Murad Saeed also quoted a taunting couplet towards Bilawal Bhutto aimed towards his lack of command on the national language, Urdu.

Saeed said that the opposition is not bothered with the economy or the state of affairs in the country, as their only concern is that their ill-gotten wealth and their fathers stay safe during the government’s clampdown on corruption. He said that the province of Sindh which is being ruled by PPP is being overrun by rabid dogs, adding that the federal government will catch these dogs to save the people.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar lamented that the incumbent government has been making up for the deficits that resulted from flawed policies of the previous governments of the PML-N and PPP. He said the national economy was destroyed during the previous term of the PML-N. He added the gas and electricity crisis are a fallout of the past government’s projects.

He also said that the inquiry report into the wheat and sugar crisis will be made public, adding that the prices of sugar and wheat have started decreasing. The house has been adjourned to meet again today (Wednesday) at 11 am.