From Abid Usman
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a countrywide protest drive from today (Friday) against skyrocketing inflation, prevailing economic crisis and soaring food and energy prices in the country.
“A countrywide protest will be held against inflation, electricity and gas loadshedding from tomorrow the protests will continue until this [PDM] government is sent packing,” PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said while addressing the media in Lahore on Thursday.
The former information minister called upon people “reeling under inflation” to participate in the protests to be led by PTI lawmakers across the country. “[PTI chief] Imran Khan will join the protesters during the third week of the protest,” he added.
Speaking about rumours that efforts are being made to install a technocrat set-up in the country, Fawad said that ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is ready to accept a technocrat government “as it wanted to delay general elections in the country amid fears of defeat”.
“There is absolutely no space for a technocrat government in the Constitution. People will only accept elections and not any technocrat set-up,” he said. He warned the government against becoming a part of any unconstitutional move “being mulled by certain quarters”.
“Establishment will be held responsible if technocrat set up fails to deliver… stop doing such experiments in the country and don’t consider the people of this country a ‘laboratory mouse’,” he added.
“Elections are the only solution to Pakistan’s problems,” he reiterated. Speaking about the pending vote of confidence that Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has announced take before January 11, Fawad alleged that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was trying to buy loyalties of the PTI MPAs. “The role of Zardari & co is not hidden from anyone… they are trying to buy our MPAs.”
