India aiming to be a superpower, Pakistan begging for funds: Pak leader in Parliament
India aiming to be a superpower, Pakistan begging for funds: Pak leader in Parliament
During his inaugural speech in the Pakistani parliament, opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed concerns about Pakistan’s economic trajectory, warning of potential bankruptcy, and compared it with India’s aspirations to achieve global superpower status.
He expressed sorrow over the diverging trajectories of both nations despite gaining independence simultaneously.
The leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) (JUI-F) remarked, “In August 1947, India and Pakistan gained independence simultaneously. Today, India aspires to global superpower status, while we struggle to avoid bankruptcy.”. “Who is responsible for this disparity?”, he questioned.
Rehman’s comments came on the same day the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the immediate release of the final $1.1 billion tranche of a $3 billion bailout to Pakistan. This financial assistance is crucial for the nation as it grapples with one of the most severe economic crises in its history, which had raised concerns about potential defaults on foreign debt payments.
As a condition of the bailout, the government was mandated to decrease subsidies aimed at mitigating the effects of escalating living expenses. This action resulted in price hikes, particularly in energy bills, prompting public discontent. Additionally, Islamabad implemented new taxes, further fueling public dissatisfaction.
The leader of JUI-F also criticised the government and raised concerns about the recently-held elections. “What kind of election is this where the losers remain dissatisfied and the winners are also unhappy?” he questioned.
It’s worth noting that Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his party were part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition, which removed Imran Khan from power in 2022 and remained in government until just before the February elections.
Rehman’s JUI-F has shifted to the opposition and has been perceived as supportive of the imprisoned former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Imran Khan.
In his address to the parliament, he questioned the state of democracy, expressing frustration with the inability to enact desired laws. He pondered over the legitimacy of referring to these legislative bodies as the people’s Parliament when such constraints exist.
He urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif to relinquish power and join the opposition benches. Rehman suggested that if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) indeed commands a larger number of seats, then they should be entrusted with governance.