LAHORE: Raoof Hasan, the Pakistan Tahreek Insaf’s (PTI) information secretary, stated that the meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation and PTI Chairman Imran Khan is evidence of the party’s significance within the country’s political framework. Hasan emphasized that the meeting solidified PTI’s political relevance without any doubts.
Furthermore, Raoof Hasan argued that his party was facing severe state brutality aimed at neutralizing them. However, he highlighted that the international community was eager to collaborate with Imran Khan. He anticipated his future role as the elected prime minister of Pakistan.
The comments were in response to an IMF team’s meeting with Imran Khan at his residence in Lahore. According to PTI leader Hammad Azhar, the discussion revolved around the staff-level agreement reached between the IMF and the government for a 9-month, $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).
Azhar also expressed support for the overall objectives and key policies outlined in the agreement. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of implementing programs to protect the lower-income segments of the population from high inflation.
The IMF is aiming to secure the backing of major political parties for the recently announced $3 billion bailout program.
In a statement, the IMF’s resident representative, Esther Perez Ruiz, explained that the meetings with political parties were intended to obtain assurances of their support for the program’s key objectives and policies in anticipation of the upcoming national elections.
State Minister for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, dismissed the PTI’s claims and accused the chairman of undermining the IMF agreement. Malik alleged during a program that Khan had jeopardized the IMF program by subsidizing petrol towards his tenure’s end. He said Imran Khan instructed the finance ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to undermine the IMF agreement.
IMF meets PPP
Additionally, an IMF delegation held a meeting with the finance team of the PPP, which included Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Federal Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar.
The meeting, which took place at the minister’s enclave, focused on exploring the potential for a stand-by agreement between Pakistan and the IMF, which would have significant implications for the country’s financial stability. The Ministry of Commerce issued an official statement stating this.
The PPP team expressed readiness to support the IMF program, driven by broader national interests, highlighting their willingness.
