Khattak holds PDM responsible for inflation, economic crisis

NOWSHERA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTIP) chairman and former federal defence minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday held the Pakistan Democratic Movement government responsible for the prevailing price-hike and economic meltdown in the country.

“The PDM performance was dismal and their leaders had only struggled to get Mian Nawaz Sharif rid of the corruption cases during their one and a half years rule,” he said while speaking at the workers’ conventions in Pabbi and Akbarpura near here.

He said that the country had been mortgaged by the previous rulers with the International Monetary Fund and other financial lenders by taking heavy loans on tough conditions.

“We have become slaves and borrowers that is why we cannot make independent policies to put the country back on the track to development and prosperity,” Pervez Khattak said, adding that the country needed honest and competent rulers to steer it out of the prevailing morass.

About Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recent statement, he said that he cannot talk to his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari but advised senior politicians to quit politics and take rest.

The country, he said, cannot be run with the politicians having no experience of governance, adding that “experience beats everything”.

About ex-prime minister Imran Khan, he said that the ex-premier was not aware of his cabinet and government affairs as former bureaucrat Azam Khan would take all important decisions.

He blasted Imran Khan for his stubbornness and so-called ego, which caused an immense harm to the nation and country.

Pervez Khattak also criticised leaders of the religio-political parties for using the name of Islam for their personal benefits but did nothing for the religion in a true sense.

He said that as KP chief minister, he had launched several projects, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Rashakai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ), Azakhel Dry-port and other mega projects.

He claimed that PTIP would sweep the upcoming elections with a thumping majority.

He said that his party would enter into electoral alliance and seat-to-seat adjustment with religious and political parties to grab maximum seats.

Pervez Khattak also said that holding free and fair elections was the responsibility of the caretaker government and the politicians should not make the polls controversial due to repeated calls for the level playing field.