Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is not a political prisoner but a criminal, making it clear that the government does not would not release, Express News reported.
He made the remarks on the issue of gifts received by the former prime minister, accusing Khan of selling them cheaply for personal gain. He also criticized the PTI leadership, accusing it of bringing the country to the brink of economic collapse during its four years in power.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he expressed concern over the adverse consequences of PTI’s governance, saying the party’s actions had plunged the country into a serious economic crisis.
He said, “The incompetence of the PTI leadership over the last four years has pushed the nation to the brink of disaster. Today, the PTI is engaged in actions that even extremist elements like RAW never dared to carry out in the past. »
Iqbal further criticized the PTI for allegedly conspiring against the military and associating with foreign elements hostile to Pakistan, accusing the party of trying to tarnish Pakistan’s international reputation, especially in the West.
Faced with the current economic situation, the minister assured that the federal government was taking strong measures to stabilize the economy.
He pointed out that under the current government, Pakistan’s economic prospects have improved, with reports of a 30 percent increase in remittances this year. “After the arrival of our government, the overall perception of Pakistan’s economy has improved,” he said.
The minister also mentioned the launch of the federal government’s ‘Uraan’ programme, which he described as a crucial initiative to boost the country’s economic growth. He stressed that economic stability requires a peaceful environment, saying no investor would come to a country experiencing unrest and chaos on the streets.
Iqbal continued his criticism of the PTI, pointing out that the ruling party leadership had continually sought to discredit Pakistan’s legal institutions, unlike the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which had chosen to waging its legal battles in courts across the country.
“We have never sought to damage the reputation of our country. It is the PTI which has damaged the image of Pakistan,” he said.
The minister further alleged that PTI leaders misused public funds, accusing former Prime Minister Imran Khan of paying around Rs 50 billion into a friend’s account, terming it a clear case of corruption. “If this isn’t theft, what is it?” » he questioned.
In conclusion, he reiterated that the Federal Government was focused on restoring the economic health of the country, improving infrastructure and maintaining law and order in order to attract investments and ensure stability of the future of Pakistan.
