The opposition leader at the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachaha, accused federal and provincial governments led by the Pakistan-Nawaz Muslim League (PML-N) to load people with strong taxes, mismanagement of fuel prices and politicize the recent SWAT tourist tragedy.
Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Bhachar denounced the nocturnal increase of the federal government in gasoline and diesel prices, qualifying it as “ironic” in the midst of global oil rates. He said that the imposition of more than RS100 per liter in taxes on oil derived products would have a direct and disproportionate impact on farmers and low -income households.
“A few days after presenting the budget with promises of relief, the government increased fuel taxes,” he said. “Meanwhile, farmers have been completely ignored.”
Bhache also accused Punjab Minister Maryam Nawaz to deceive the public by stating that the provincial budget was tax free. “Actually, even the small houses of Dos Marlaes were taxed,” he said.
As for recent tourist deaths in Swat, the opposition leader accused Punjab government of politicizing the tragedy. He said that instead of pointing out the fingers, the provincial administration should reflect on their own deficiencies.
“While the nation cries the loss of lives on Swat, who will respond to the 23 children who died due to the scarcity of oxygen in Pakpattan, or the 20 newborns who died during the stops in a single week?” asked.
He condemned the informed closure of 1,132 basic health centers in Punjab, which would affect approximately 130,000 employees, many with decades of service. “These people deserve an explanation,” he said, added that the provincial government had not yet issued a public statement about children’s deaths or health reduction.
When commenting on the suspension of opposition legislators, Bhachar claimed that the measure was a tactic to approve legislation without dissent. “The authority to request the assembly was stripped of us,” he said. “We have already called it a false assembly. Our leader, Imran Khan, praised the legislators who resisted and protested against figures such as Maryam Nawaz.”
Meanwhile, Punjab’s leadership by Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) announced the preparations for a protest campaign throughout the province against what he described as “inhuman treatment” of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Given this oppression and injustice, the protest is now our only remaining option,” said the leaders in a statement. The planned protest follows the directives of the PTIran Khan boss pattern to resist what the party calls continuous violations of constitutional and legal order.
