LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has objected to the caretaker government’s privatisation policy, terming it a continuation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’ plan.

“The interim government is doing what it is not authorised to do. Its only duty is to conduct fair and transparent elections, but it is not even talking about it. On the other hand, it is continuing the privatisation policy of PML-N,” says PPP Punjab Secretary General Syed Hassan Murtaza.

At a press conference here on Friday, he asked who empowered the caretakers to sell out state institutions.

Flanked by Aslam Gill, Usman Malik and Ahsan Rizvi, Murtaza condemned the arrest of the the protesting government employees, including teachers.

He said the employees were only demanding restoration of leave encashment facility, reversal of amendments to pension regulations and cancellation of privatisation plans for public schools.

Murtaza alleged that the caretaker government was doing all this at the behest of the PML-N and some NGOs in violation of the people’s constitutional rights.

Responding to a question regarding the return of Nawaz Sharif, the PPP leader said the party welcomes the homecoming of the PML-N Quaid but added that like the procedure for his conviction, providing him relief is also wrong.

He asked what impression Khwaja Asif was trying to give through his ‘match-fixing’ statement.

He also questioned the funding for the Oct 21 public meeting to be addressed by Nawaz Sharif, saying the event’s publicity was going on even in the trains.

Answering a query, he said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) should be allowed to contest the polls only after disbanding its ‘militant’ wing.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2023