Minutes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled a host of austerity measures, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan heaped scorn at the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led (PDM) government, asking rulers to bring back the country\u2019s \u201clooted money\u201d.
\n\u201cIf you want to do something [for the country], then bring your [looted] money back from abroad,\u201d Khan said on Wednesday while addressing the nation via video link from his Zaman Park residence where he has been recuperating since he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad on November 3.
\nAt the same time, the PTI chief paid a tribute to his party workers and supporters in Lahore for participating in the \u2018Jail Bharo Tehreek\u2019 \u2014 the court arrest movement which kick-started earlier today.
\nThe incumbent government unveiled austerity measures to save Rs200 billion \u2014 aimed to keep the country afloat as the nation buckles up to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) terms to unlock the next tranche worth $1.1 billion loan facility.
\nTwo days ago, the lower house of parliament also unanimously approved the government\u2019s much-needed Rs170 billion \u2018mini-budget\u2019 \u2014 a move mandatory for seeking the global lender’s loan.
\nComing down hard on the PDM, a group of nine political parties, coalition government, Imran Khan said the rulers should \u201cstop fooling people\u201d by sharing plans to cut down the number of government vehicles and sell land. \u201cI thought there would a big decision. [They must be] worried about the nation.\u201d
\nHe also reiterated the government\u2019s promise to fix the country. \u201cEven an enemy won\u2019t do what has happened [in the country] in the last 10 months.\u201d The coalition government came into power after overthrowing the Imran Khan-led PTI regime through a vote of no-confidence last April.
\nLamenting the state of the economy, the deposed premier said: \u201cIndustries have shut down and people have become unemployed. You and your facilitators are responsible for this inflation.”
\nReiterating his claim, Khan said that the leadership of the coalition government, after coming into power, had their corruption cases quashed.
\nComing back to his court arrest campaign, the PTI chairman said: \u201cThe Jail Bharo movement has been started from Lahore. It was initiated to break the chains of fear.\u201d
\nHe added that the \u201cnation is now ready for a revolution\u201d and will not be \u201cfooled\u201d.
\nIn the wake of sedition cases filed against his party leaders including Fawad Chaudhry, Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill, Imran Khan on February 4 announced ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’.
\nSlamming the PM Shehbaz-led administration, the ousted prime minister said: \u201cThe nation is ready to take to the streets. Our goal is that the rule of law and Constitution should prevail in the country, not the jungle\u2019s law.\u201d
\nThe cricketer-turned-politician said that his party began the \u2018Haqiqi Azadi\u2019 (true freedom) movement on April 10 last year. \u201cMy Haqiqi Azadi movement is to free the country from traitors.\u201d
\nSpeaking about the possibility of the upcoming election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) while castigating the interim setup in the two provinces, the PTI chief said: \u201cThe caretaker government cannot exist after 90 days. If polls are delayed after 90 days, then the nation will have to step outside.\u201d
\nKhan said that his party would come into power, no matter what happens. \u201cThe nation will have to protect this country\u2019s Constitution.
\nThe former prime minister, while criticising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja\u2019s role in not issuing the schedule for the polls, maintained that Article 6 \u2014 high treason \u2014 should be applied to the electoral body\u2019s head.
\nTwo days ago, President Dr Arif Alvi fixed April 9 as the date for elections to the provincial ass\u00ade\u00admblies of Punjab and KP \u2014 the move condemned by the government as \u201cunconstitutional and illegal\u201d.
\nThe president’s decision came hours after the ECP reaffirmed its decision not to consult the president on dates for elections to the two provincial assemblies.
\nMoreover, the PTI chairman also thanked the people for being there when he appeared before the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday seeking protective bail in the case pertaining to protests outside offices of the Pakistan Election Commission (ECP). Khan was granted bail till March 3 by the provincial top court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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