LAHORE, May 16: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday gave the go-ahead signal to launch an anti-government movement over rising inflation and devaluation of the rupee against the US dollar after Eidul Fitr.
Sources say the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo has asked the party leaders who met him inside Kot Lakhpat Jail where he is serving his seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia case to kick off a campaign against the government over rising inflation and hike in the rupee rate against the dollar after Eid.
He directed the PML-N leadership to convene a meeting to work out a strategy in this regard.
Sources say Nawaz Sharif will be given a briefing on the nature of the agitation drive by party leaders during their next meeting with him. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been tasked to convene meetings of the party’s central and provincial leadership.
The details suggest that PML-N will launch campaign against the federal government after Eid-ul-Fitr with full force. Former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will conduct party meetings in the capital as well as in the provinces.
Talking to the party leaders, Sharif said the PML-N will no longer remain mum over soaring inflation. “The government’s attitude towards the people is unacceptable at any cost,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif said his party will not remain quiet on inflation anymore, and government’s treatment with the people is unbearable. He maintained that he gets worried when he reads about inflation and surge in value of US dollar.
Nawaz Sharif directed the party officials to become voice of the people over the issues. “The person who used to bash amnesty scheme is now introducing it himself. The government has no intention to provide relief to the poor. It is our misfortune that foreign currency is not even available in the open market. “Pakistan was making progress in our tenure and the price of US dollar was also stable.”
Sharif felicitated the newly appointed party leaders and directed the party’s central and provincial leaders to become a voice of the people reeling under skyrocketing prices of essential items and inflation.-DNA
