CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Sunday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership for spreading rumours that the country was on verge of bankruptcy.

Addressing a gathering in Koz Behram Dheri here, he said what purpose the PTI leaders wanted to achieve by spreading rumours about the country’s economy. “It is tantamount to conspiring against the country,” he added.

On the occasion, ANP workers Sharif Gul, Qadeem Gul Haji, Javed Haji, Hasham Khan, Ziarat Khan and Hazratullah joined QWP along with their families and supporters.

Mr Sherpao said that new army chief would be appointed as per Constitution but PTI chairman Imran Khan wanted to make the process controversial.

ANP workers join QWP in Charsadda

He was also critical of Imran Khan’s long march, saying what type of independence he wanted as the country was already independent. He said that Imran Khan strained the country’s relations with other nations when he was prime minister. He said that now the country was going in the right direction and it was enjoying good relations with other nations.

The QWP leader said that PTI undermined governance and the economy during its four-year rule. He said that PTI leadership wanted a clash among the state institutions.

He said that the incompetence of PTI could be gauged from the fact that it changed five IGPs and several chief secretaries of Punjab. He said that Imran Khan created a huge gulf between the government and the opposition due to which the two sides could not have a normal working relation.

Mr Sherpao said that Imran Khan hailed the judiciary when the court gave a verdict in his favour, but he started criticising it when a judgment was passed against him.

He also came down hard on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for demanding fresh elections and said that PTI had been ruling the province for nine years. “The next general election will take place in its due time and the incumbent federal government will complete the remaining term in office,” he added.

He advised the provincial government to take steps to improve the worsening law and order in the province instead of indulging in non-issues. He said that incidents of kidnapping for ransom, targeted killing and extortion had increased due to which people were feeling insecure.

About the chief minister’s claim that the federal government was not releasing funds to tribal districts, Mr Sherpao said that provincial government should share the figures as to how much money the ex-Fata received when Imran Khan was in power.

He said that PTI leaders were bent on misleading the youth and were using them for their vested interests. “What about the 10 million jobs the PTI had promised to create,” he questioned.

He lamented that Pakistan had lagged behind regional countries like India and Bangladesh excelled in every field. “We need to work hard to compete with our competitors in every field to make Pakistan a prosperous country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022