July 20, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 16, 1429

LAHORE, July 19: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Pervaiz Elahi and former prime minister and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have said that the coalition partners had not learnt any lesson from the past and were diverting the attention of the people from real issues instead of solving their problems.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore Airport on return from a private tour of United Arab Emirates on Saturday, they said that victimisation of opposition had exposed the rulers. They claimed that the parliament was supreme but important matters were not being brought in it. Even the coalition partners were not aware of the action in tribal areas.

They said that foreign investment was on the decline because of deteriorating economic situation. Overseas Pakistanis and well wishers of Pakistan were more perturbed over the economic situation than the people.

They said that the government was not likely to last for more than two months in case the present situation was allowed to continue.

The change would not be brought by the president but by inflation, unemployment and other problems.

They said that the rulers wanted diverting the attention of the people from real issues by victimising the opposition but they had full confidence in the judiciary.

They thanked the Lahore High Court for taking suo motu notice of the action of Punjab government against them and expressed the confidence that the court would provide them relief.

Elahi said the government performance during its first 100 days was disappointing. The PML-Q government had set new records in economic development and increased exports from US $7 billion to $18 billion. It left foreign exchange reserves of $17 billion which had now gone below $11 billion and were on the decline.

Inflation and devaluation had exceeded 35 per cent and exchange value of dollar which had remained stable around Rs60 during the past five years was now around Rs74 due to mismanagement of economy by the ruling coalition.

Shujaat denied having contacted PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zaradri and said that he did not consider it of any use.