PESHAWAR: Declaring the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf a total failure, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Sherpao on Friday urged the opposition parties to join hands for ousting the government without delay.

“Our economy will collapse if Imran Khan continues as the premier,” he told an Iftar party hosted for journalists at the party’s secretariat here.

Mr Sherpao said the ruling PTI had always targeted political rivals instead of fulfilling promises about the people’s development.

He said the premier had failed to fulfil his election promises.

The QWP chief flayed the government over the rupee’s speedy devaluation, high inflation and lawlessness and said the people had begun taking to the streets across the country against the incompetent rulers.

He said on one hand, unemployment was on the rise as the government had no plan to recruit jobless youths and on the other, poverty rate was growing fast due to a lack of planning on part of the government to control it.

Asks opposition to unite for ousting government

“The PTI is doing nothing for the people’s welfare and it has focused its attention on targeting the opposition,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said the escalating power, gas and oil prices had made the people’s life extremely miserable.

He warned that the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for loan would bring about unprecedented price hike.

The QWP chairman said the new adviser to the premier on finance, State Bank of Pakistan governor and Federal Board of Revenue chairman were appointed at the behest of the IMF couldn’t serve national interests.

“The government is set to impose Rs750 billion new taxes on people and thus, triggering another wave of price hike to the misery of the people,” he said.

Mr Sherpao also criticised the government over poor law and order situation in the country and called for the effective enforcement of the national action plan against terrorism.

“The opposition parties should unite to save national economy from collapse,” he said.

The QWP chairman urged the government to adopt a strong foreign policy through parliament to improve ties with all neighbouring countries and said it would help protect the country from internal and external threats, especially amid the current US-Iran tensions.

“The government should take practical steps without delay to improve ties with neighbouring states to restore peace on strong footing and strengthen regional economy,” he said.

Mr Sherpao also urged the ruling PTI to fulfil its commitments made with the people of tribal districts by releasing the promised funds.

He also demanded increase in the constituencies of erstwhile Fata but said that didn’t mean to delay elections for the provincial assembly seats in the region for more than six months.

The QWP chief warned that if the government didn’t fulfil its commitments with the tribal people, then the parties opposed to Fata-KP merger would exploit the situation.

He said the roles of the governor, chief minister and his advisers regarding tribal districts should be declared to prevent confusion.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2019