LAHORE, Nov 16: PML-Q central leader Pervaiz Elahi says the coalition government has added to miseries of the masses instead of providing them with any relief though the opposition has given it a free hand to solve the people’s problems.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, he said the ruling coalition was imposing the taxes abolished by the PML-Q government warning that implementation of the IMF conditions would result in hyper-inflation.

Alleging that the rulers were disposing of precious national assets at throw-away prices, he said the government went on back-foot on the decision of Qadirpur gas field privatisation when his party exposed the scandal behind the move. Attacking the people who were declaring the leadership of the Chaudhrys as “non-functional”, he said these elements themselves had never been functional and active in party’s activities and against the government. He said both the PPP and the PML-N were two sides of the same coin as the latter was delivering fiery speeches against the former in the National Assembly but in Punjab they both were sharing power.

Pervaiz said he appreciated the nazims who did not bow down before government’s pressure to change their loyalties. He urged them to continue their resistance because the masses whom they had served, were with them. He also asked the Q-leaguers to bring back the nazims who frightened by government’s alleged highhandedness, left the party.

Claiming that the projects and “pro-people” policies introduced by the PML-Q government outmatched even the 18-year rule of the Sharifs, he said the PML-N government was trying to reverse these policies but the courts were objecting to it due to the legislation done during his tenure. Answering a question, he said the PML-Q would support any bill to be tabled in the parliament for abolition of the clause 58(2)B of the Constitution.

He told a questioner that he wanted return of those who created rifts in the party and formed separate groups. He said if the people won on PML-Q tickets had any differences and reservations on the party policy, they should resign from their seats and contest the polls afresh. — Staff Reporter