LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The PTI has been accused of seeking the imposition of martial law and economic sanctions in the country by its political opponents.

In separate statements issued on Sunday, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui and senior PPP leader Shehla Raza assailed the party for backing a resolution, recently passed by the US Congress, accusing it of using their resources and influence to secure the passage of an “anti-Pakistan” measure.

Senator Siddiqui, who is also chairman of the Senate Standing committee on Foreign Affairs, tweeted: “Their (PTI’s) next target is imposition of all sorts of sanctions including economic sanctions, against Pakistan”.

In his tweet, Senator Siddiqui further said that as the US elections were nearing, candidates were running around seeking support and donations from their voters.

Shehla Raza says her party still has some issues with PML-N

He claimed that PTI leaders in Pakistan issued instructions for an organised campaign in the US, deploring that PTI voters had contributed money and used their influence for an anti-Pakistan resolution and called the passage of the resolution a major success for PTI.

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Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Lahore on Sunday, Ms Raza said the PTI was fomenting politics of hatred and taking every step that could lead to the imposition of martial law.

Replying to a question, she said that there was a big difference between interference and conspiracy. “The US Congress resolution is open interference in our national affairs, while the PTI had been alleging that the cipher was a conspiracy [against its government].”

She sarcastically asked whether the PTI would get freedom at the behest of America or someone else.

The PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council is the only parliamentary party that opposed the National Assembly’s resolution against the US congress’ ruling, which had called for a probe into Feb 8 elections.

She recalled that martial law had been imposed after the election held by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s regime in 1977 and the PTI desired a similar step after its ouster from power.

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Talking about relations with its coalition partner PML-N, the PPP leader said that they still had some issues and concerns with the government, apart from the budget, adding that the PML-N had admitted its mistakes on many issues.

Regarding the PPP promise of offering 300 units of electricity free of cost, she said there was a lot of difference between the election manifestos of the PPP and the PML-N and that had her party come into power, it would have fulfilled its promise regarding the provision of free electricity.

She said her party desired that industries and shops should also be taxed, but had concerns regarding taxes on the salaried class. She said that many people associated with different economic sectors had not been brought into the tax net so far.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024