ISLAMABAD: In a stormy session of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI's) parliamentary committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, party lawmakers on Friday warned the government to get ready to face "rotten eggs, tomatoes and worse" due to "poor" performance of the ministers, and rising inflation.
The PTI's parliamentary meeting chaired by PM Khan ahead of the National Assembly session witnessed interesting remarks from two flamboyant MNAs - Noor Alam Khan and Sanuallah Mastikhel - who, plainly told the prime minister that masses were "fed up" due to "record inflation" during the two-and-a-half-year rule of the party.
Mastikhel, a firebrand MNA of the PTI from Bhakar, left the ministers of the party red-faced, saying "these heavyweight ministers and advisers are not worth a buck as inflation coupled with exorbitant utility bills has made lives of people miserable".
According to the sources, while drawing the attention of the prime minister, he said: "I'm sorry Mr Prime Minister... your team has miserably failed to deliver. They're doing nothing with regard to power bills, as people are unable to pay their bills".
From there onwards, another PTI lawmaker stood up from his seat, and seconded his colleague from Bhakar, saying "there is no second opinion about what Mr Khel said about the ministers who, have completely failed to deliver the way masses and you, Mr Prime Minister [wanted them], to deliver to the masses".
"We're with you, Mr Prime Minister, Sir! but these ministers and advisers are good for nothing, as they've done nothing to give relief to the people...we stand by the government despite reservations , but we've to do something to give relief to the masses or it will be too late," he maintained.
The MNA Alam then shifted his guns towards the power minister Omar Ayub Khan, saying "Omar is like a brother, but electricity bills being sent to people are simply not bearable". The meeting also reviewed the anti-government movement being launched, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), and said "the so-called narrative of the opposition to hide its corruption and get an NRO is not going to pay off".
According to sources, the prime minister said that "launderers of national wealth and money launderers have once again been united, but they're going to get nothing out of their so-called movement".
He said that opposition members had been left "jobless" after they were wiped out in 2018 general elections, adding through those tactics, they were trying to get relief from the government, but it was simply next to impossible.
"All these people who have joined hands are facing graft cases before the top anti-graft body, so they're going to get no relief out of what they are doing in sheer frustration," he declared.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020