Opposition political parties have censured the government's decision to appoint Dr Reza Baqir as State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor and alleged that former finance minister Asad Umar and the central bank's chief Tariq Bajwa were removed on the behest of International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Two major opposition parties including Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) raised questions on the latest development in which the government removed the SBP Governor and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman. They also flayed the government for increasing the prices of petroleum products ahead of the holy month of Ramazan.
In a statement on Sunday, PPP senior leader Syed Khursheed Shah criticized the government's decision to appoint a serving IMF employee Dr Reza Baqir as SBP governor. He alleged that former finance minister Asad Umar was also removed on the behest of the IMF. "I have credible information that Reza Baqir was used to remove Asad Umar. A message was conveyed [to the government] through Reza Baqir that IMF is not happy with Asad Umar and that no package will be given to Pakistan with Asad Umar as the finance minister", he maintained.
"The new finance adviser has the right to bring his own economic team, but it appears that the government has made a plan in its upcoming budget to force the people to die of starvation", Shah said, adding that the government has already put a heavy burden on the masses ahead of the budget.
Referring to the hike in prices of petroleum products, he deplored the decision, saying that the people are already suffering due to high inflation and the rise in petroleum prices ahead of the holy month of Ramazan will further add to the problems of the masses.
He said the opposition had advised the government to approach the IMF on time. He said that the opposition had also advised the government that any late decision would have consequences for the people, as it has no option but to accept the tough conditions of the Fund.
Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, PPP's leaders Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Pulwasha Khan alleged that Tariq Bajwa was removed as SBP governor for the reason he had identified the alleged involvement of 18 family members of Prime Minister Khan in money laundering. They demanded that a joint investigation team should be constituted to probe into the questions raised by Bajwa pertaining to the money laundering.
In a statement, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan has surrendered the entire country to the IMF, adding that firstly finance minister was removed to make way for the IMF's pick for the job and now the SBP governor and FBR chairman on the behest of the Fund.
"The Prime Minister who is clueless and incompetent to the extent that he has no negotiation power which is why he had no choice but to bow down", she alleged. "Imran Khan, who had made a promise with the people that he would commit suicide instead of approaching the IMF for a loan, owed the people an apology... or he should admit that he was embarrassed over what he had said earlier", she further said.
Referring to the rise in prices of petroleum products, she said the 'incompetent' prime minister has put further burden on the masses ahead of the holy month who are already facing high inflation.
Meanwhile, sources within the two major opposition parties said the opposition parties will raise the issue of appointment of the new governor SBP and rise in prices of the petroleum products in the National Assembly and Senate sessions today. They said the joint opposition will question the government on both the houses and seek an explanation on the development.
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