ISLAMABAD: Shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a series of austerity measures, Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticized the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government and demanded that they repatriate the nation’s stolen funds. Speaking to the nation from his residence in Zaman Park via video link on Wednesday, Khan urged the government to bring back their stolen wealth from overseas if they truly want to make a difference.
The leader of Pakistan’s political party, PTI, has commended party workers and supporters in Lahore for participating in the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’, a court arrest movement that began earlier today.
This comes as the government introduces measures to save Rs200 billion in order to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) requirements to access the next $1.1 billion loan. Additionally, the lower house of parliament unanimously passed government’s Rs170 billion ‘mini-budget’, a crucial step towards securing the loan.
In strong words aimed at the PDM, a coalition of nine political parties, PM Imran Khan, has criticized their lack of action and urged them to stop misleading the public by promising to cut the number of government vehicles and sell land. Khan expressed his disappointment and concern for the nation.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to fixing the country, claiming that even an enemy wouldn’t have caused as much damage as had occurred in the past 10 months. The coalition government had taken power after overthrowing Khan’s PTI government through a vote of no-confidence last April.
In response, the deposed premier lamented the state of economy, with industries shutting down and unemployment rates soaring, blaming the government and its supporters for the inflation crisis.
Khan has reiterated his statement that the ruling coalition’s leadership had their corruption charges dismissed upon taking office.
