PPP says govt insensitive to common man
ISLAMABAD - Former President Asif Ali Zardari said yesterday that only the PPP can rebuild the country as the party held countrywide protests against price hike. The PPP organised protest demonstrations against inflation across the country to reject the price hike. Praising the party for nationwide protests against inflation and unemployment, he said there were two catastrophic floods during the PPP tenure, but there was no shortage of food and no increase in inflation.
In a statement, Zardari – who also heads Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians – said, “We belong to the poor and the poor belong to us so whenever we come to power we alleviate the problems of the poor. Now every citizen of the country is suffering from inflation and unemployment.” Zardari said the PPP does not waste time in taking revenge on anyone. “Our priority is to serve the country and the people. We will come back and rehabilitate the sacked employees and create employment opportunities so that the youth and every citizen of the country can be encouraged to move forward,” he said. Zardari said that PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in the field and the victory will be of the people. The PPP will also end inflation and bring prosperity to the people.
Meanwhile, PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman said the govt had broken a 70-year record of inflation over the past 3 years and was insensitive to the common man. “Everyone is out on the roads protesting against this incompetent government and asking for the prime minister to resign. Inflation has reached 9 percent in Pakistan according to the World Bank which is higher than other South Asian countries in the region and instead of fixing this crisis, the government has also warned of higher inflation. This is exactly why PPP is marching today against crippling inflation, and unaffordable life in Naya (new) Pakistan. It is clear to us that (Prime Minister) Imran Khan is no longer on same page with the people of Pakistan,” she said.
Waving an electricity bill at a protest rally, Sherry Rehman said, should “we burn this bill now like you used to on a container in D Chowk.” When the crowd roared burn it, she said “no, we don’t burn bills and put people in more difficulties than they already face in Naya Pakistan. But we want the old electricity rates back that we’re on the bill he burnt in Purana (old) Pakistan.”
On the inflation in the country, the lawmaker said inflation had been on an exponential rise since this government came into office. “In 2018 inflation was at 5.07 percent but has sharply increased as it was 9 percent in September 2021. The inflation rate is at 12.66 percent year-on-year meanwhile the government is busy blaming others for inaction to mask their own incompetence. Food prices across the board have doubled while other essential food items such as ghee, oil, sugar, flour and poultry have become unaffordable for the masses. In 2020 the food inflation in Pakistan had soared to a whopping 20 percent which was the highest in the region,” she added. Speaking at a demonstration in Islamabad, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari ridiculed energy minister for calling Pakistan is a cheap country to live.
“The minister does not buy and pay anything from his own pocket including petrol, electricity and gas. The poor people are hurt by this statement,” he said.
Bukhari said that the poor cannot have two meals a day. “The people and the opposition must come to the streets and overthrow the government of Imran Khan. The Finance Advisor has warned that there will be more inflation. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto himself will announce the strategy of the next protest of the PPP,” he remarked.