Hussain ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), on Tuesday, raised a concern on the worsening sitch of the country’s economy calling it a result of the poor economic policies of Hafeez Shaikh, the recently ousted finance minister.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Monday, had removed Dr Hafeez Shaikh and handed the finance portfolio over to Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar.
Hammad Azhar, who serves as a Minister of Industries, is given this portfolio as an additional charge.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz said Mr Shaikh had been asked to tender his resignation by the Prime Minister as the latter was not happy on the rise of inflation in the country.
Both the major opposition parties criticised the government on the current hike of inflation and demanded that both prime minister and his team quits at their foremost.
PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said that it was her party’s demand that both Nadeem Babar and Hafeez Shaikh should be put on Exit Control List (ECL) and should not be allowed to flee from the country.
“Those who thrashed the national economy, forced people into poverty are the ones who sold Pakistan’s sovereignty to the IMF and they should be behind bars,” she demanded.
She added: “the cabinet shuffle is nothing short of the game of musical chairs and PTI can’t escape the disastrous situation it has created.”
The PPP demanded an open review of the agreements made with the IMF and its conditions.
“The government, by ousting the Finance Minister, has admitted its complete failure, incompetence, and incapability,” said Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Secretary General Pakistan People’s Party.
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) asked the government to remove Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Baqir Raza as well and announced the start of a “Go IMF Go” movement across Pakistan.
