Former Prime Minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will hold an important press conference following his meeting with PML-N top leaders, sources revealed.
According to details, during the press conference, Nawaz Sharif will reveal the reasons for Imran Khan’s removal. He will also give a briefing on how to deal with the economic crisis and oil prices. Furthermore, sources said Nawaz Sharif has advised Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Miftah Ismail to decide on petrol subsidies.
Currently, the government is at crossroads. To clarify, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s has demanded an increase in fuel taxes. Meanwhile, the government has decided to sell petrol at Rs. 145 per litre for the time being and would try its best to maintain that price.
Read more: IMF bailout extended by one year, loans increased by $2 bn
As for the early elections, Nawaz Sharif will reveal the party’s decision. Early elections are another major obstacle for the PML-N government. Experts believe prolonging the elections will make PML-N lose whatever popularity it currently has in Pakistan. However, PML-N itself is not ready to hold early elections. It will announce a formal decision after discussions with coalition partners.
Meanwhile, PPP Co-Chairman and former President Asif Zardari said they were not afraid of elections, but the general election would only be held in the country after electoral reforms, no matter whether the process was completed in three or four months’ time.
Shehbaz Sharif in London
Presently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in London where he met with his brother Nawaz Sharif. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, among others.
A bunch of alleged criminals & would-be convicts arrived in London to pay homage to a convict-absconder Nawaz Sharif. A matter of unmitigated shame for the country to be ruled by a criminally-compromised band of bandits. pic.twitter.com/sk88wPqVoq
— Raoof Hasan (@RaoofHasan) May 11, 2022
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to London became the target of much criticism. Many questioned the timing of the visit, asking why such a trip is necessary when the country is in dire straits. PML-N leaders were also criticized for seeking Nawaz Sharif’s counsel on key issues in Pakistan.
On the other hand, Information Minister Marriyum Nawaz defended the visit saying there was nothing surprising in the London meeting.
“Nawaz Sharif is our Quaid. Meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif was long overdue. We have inherited today’s Pakistan in a written-off situation and we needed to review the whole situation to formulate a plan. This was a private delegation,” she told the media.
Read more: Why is Bilawal Bhutto meeting Nawaz Sharif in London?
Govt says overseas Pakistani's should not be given right to vote because they live outside and don't know about ground situation in Pak. But the PM and key cabinet members go to London to take instructions from a person who lives outside Pakistan!!! #امپورٹڈ__حکومت__نامنظور
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) May 12, 2022
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the meeting reviewed in detail the steps taken by the government since it came to power last month and considered recommendations to save the public from inflation and power outages.