Zardari demands to impose 'economic emergency' in the country

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called for an ‘economic emergency’ in the country saying that the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government has bankrupted the nation.

“PML-N, whenever it came to power, has made the nation bankrupt, while PPP has also strengthened the economy,” he said addressing a press conference in Peshawar.

Turning towards the finance minister, Zardari questioned who is behind the current economic crisis and immediately demanded to declare an ‘economic emergency’ in the country.

Zardari said the debts piled up by the PML-N will eventually have to be repaid while claiming the PPP always encourage economic activities and relieved from foreign loans.

He also used the opportunity to lash at former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is he is still unsure why he was ousted and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan who is living in a world of his own.

Zardari visited the ancestral village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak but saw no change but rather dilapidated roads and garbage.

He said the upcoming NA-4 by-election in Peshawar will give a new direction to the people, and the PPP is making a full effort to participate in the bypolls.

He also said the PPP gave a new identity to the Pakthuns, fought to drive off militants from Swat, and will continue to the work for their rights.

He also vowed to merge FATA with KP and declare it one province which will restore the writ of the state and will end the strife in the area. He said they will announce a ‘war package’ with the assistance of the world to provide employment and development to the region.

“At the time, the conditions were not as they are today. Today is the time to merge Fata,” he said adding the PPP will move forward despite objections from others such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.

When asked about the current clash between the government and other state institutions, Zardari said it is the responsibility of the parliament to solve the crisis.

He said that the judiciary dismissed Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, but still they not did take to the streets or cautioned why they were ousted, unlike Nawaz Sharif.