Drawing a comparison with India, Pakistani opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman, in his inaugural address in the Pakistan parliament said while the neighbouring country was striving to become a superpower, Pakistan was headed towards bankruptcy.
“In August 1947, India and Pakistan got independence together. Today, India is dreaming of becoming a global superpower, while we are begging to avoid bankruptcy. Who is responsible for this?” Fazlur Rahman, the chief of the Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam asked fellow lawmakers.
Cash strapped Pakistan is receiving a three billion USD bailout funding package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the agency agreed immediately to disburse its final tranche on April 29, 2024. Pakistan right wing Islamic leader also criticised the recently held general elections asserting that the establishment and bureaucracy had no role in running elections and the country.
“What kind of elections is this where the losers are not satisfied and the winners are upset?” he said. He also questioning the legitimacy of the current government and accused its members of forsaking principles and selling democracy as reported by an Indian news agency, citing sources from local media.
He also condemned the electoral rigging in both the 2018 and 2014 elections and denouncing the ascesion of purportedly counterfeit representatives to power. Rehman lamented the perceived powerlessness of lawmakers to enact legislation independently. Additionally, he also highlighted the national debt of the country on every Pakistani.
He advocated for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) to be permitted to hold gatherings in public underscoring the importance of democratic rights and principles, and announced plans for a million march on May 2, 2024 and May 9, 2024, in the cities of Karachi and Peshawar respectively.
There are powers behind the walls controlling us and they make decisions while we are just puppets Fazlur Rahman said. The opposition leader further stated, “Governments are made in palaces and bureaucrats decide who will be the Prime Ministers. How long will we seek help from external forces to be elected as lawmakers?
Pakistan, which held a parliamentary election on February 8 this year saw no party forming majority. The PML-N of Nawaz Sharif formed a coalition with the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) to form the government, with Shahbaz Sharif at its helm. The country is under midst of economic crisis and challenges; However, the government believes that with the help from the IMF and its funds, macroeconomic stability and can be achieved soon.
