Maryam Nawaz, senior vice president of the PML-N, has reportedly distanced herself from the coalition government headed by his uncle, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, asserting that her party is not accountable for the government’s performance.
The head of the ruling party allegedly said these things during a recent meeting with representatives of the PMLN’s youth wing.
“This is not my government. Our government will be when Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan,” the party sources quoted her as saying during the meeting.
According to the party sources, the coalition partners are playing a blame game over the poor performance of the federal government.
“Our government will be formed when Nawaz Sharif is in Pakistan. Only Nawaz Sharif can take Pakistan forward,” she was quoted as saying.
Her remarks come at a time when the PML-N-led administration is facing intense criticism due to rising food prices and inflation ahead of this year’s general elections.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar formally unveiled a Rs170 billion mini-budget on Wednesday amid rising inflation. The budget included some highly inflationary measures but exempted traders and commercial banks from any new taxes, undermining the coalition government’s argument that it should burden the sectors that are best able to bear it.
The Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 also included certain policies that have historically failed to generate substantial amounts of cash, like the implementation of a 10% advance income tax on public and private events.
“Pakistan has reached an understanding with the IMF [International Monetary Fund] during January 31-February 9th staff-level visit and the most important element of it was to introduce Rs170 billion worth additional taxes,” Dar said while introducing the finance bill in the National Assembly.
Moreover, the federal government on Wednesday also dropped another oil bomb by increasing the price of petrol by Rs22.20 per litre effective February 16 (today). The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was also raised by Rs17.20 per litre.
