LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) central information secretary Dr Nafisa Shah has demanded finance minister Asad Umer to explain to the nation the terms of reference Pakistan is committing in its engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to seek loan.

Since it was being apprehended that a tsunami of price-hike is likely to hit the country, Dr Shah at a press conference here at the party’s Model Town office, asked the PTI government to explain how much loan had been applied and what were the priorities. She also asked about the government’s “Social Safety Net” to protect poor people in the country.

Rejecting the PTI government’s claim of creating 10 million jobs for the youth, Dr Nafisa Shah asked how many jobs it would withdraw, given the fact that factories were being shut down and businesses scrapped in the name of anti-encroachment drive. She added that people were also being rendered homeless because of the drive.

She said the government was heading fast towards ruining the country’s economy as it would be mortgaging its independence with the IMF and added that soon after the country applied for loan, the USA asked Pakistan to explain the details of CPEC.

With inflation rate touching 14 per cent, interest rates soaring, economy facing recession, she said, the factories were bound to shut down rendering people jobless.

In these grave circumstances, she regretted that the government was busy auctioning small vehicles and added that it had recently put four small cars and one motorcycle on auction.

Dr Shah also questioned governance system in Punjab and referred to two MNAs letters for transfer of patwaris, Khawar Maneka-DPO Pakpattan episode and transfer of IG Punjab.

She regretted that the judiciary was not doing justice in Punjab IG’s transfer case as it did in the matter of Sindh police chief’s transfer.

Dr Shah said the PPPP was playing opposition’s role according to its manifesto in the best interest of the country.

“We are joining hands with the PML-N in by-elections for seat-to-seat adjustment,” she said.

Regarding surfacing of fake bank accounts in Sindh, she demanded a JIT should investigate and make public its findings. She also demanded that PTI’s Jahangir Khan Tareen should also be asked what he was doing with the money he allegedly put in the accounts of his cook and driver.

PPPP leaders Taj Haider and Chaudhry Manzoor also spoke.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2018