PTI slams govt over 'self-serving' policies, legislation

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Omer Ayub and Barrister Gohar, strongly criticized the government and judiciary while speaking to the media outside the Parliament House on Monday.

They accused the ruling coalition of failing to uphold democratic principles and ignoring key constitutional obligations.

Omer Ayub, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, claimed that the government had acted as a "slave" in policymaking. He also alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were planning to "sell Sindh’s water" and divert it to Punjab for agricultural use in Cholistan, where land had been designated for farming.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar criticised the government for failing to implement Supreme Court orders. He highlighted that the court had issued two directives that remained unexecuted, including the notification of PTI MNAs. He also pointed out that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa currently lacked representation in the Senate, which he deemed a serious democratic failure.

Gohar also clarified that while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not officially part of their alliance, he was supporting their cause. He also mentioned that political figures like Mahmood Achakzai and Allama Nasir stood with the PTI.

He also criticised the government for failing to implement any reforms it promised and introduce any legislation that protects fundamental rights. "Instead of passing laws to benefit the public, the ruling elite has focused on self-serving policies," he stated.

He further criticized the silence of government ministers on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and slammed their inaction in addressing Pakistan’s economic downturn.

Gohar also claimed that the economy was currently at its weakest level, adding that parliament was full of millionaires. "Instead of legislation on increasing salaries, everything was done under an order," he alleged. 

Omer Ayub also condemned the crackdown on PTI members and activists. He claimed that Mian Ghaus's production orders were issued but never implemented.

He further alleged that police used violence against protesting lawyers and that PTI leader Ahmed Chattha’s homes in his village and the city were raided and vandalized. Tragically, he reported that a woman suffered a heart attack and died following a raid on her residence. 

The PTI leader reaffirmed the party's stance against "self-serving" legislation and vowed to continue their political struggle. "Even today, we tried for the speaker to give us the assembly floor so we could speak about the public," Ayub said, asserting that PTI would not be silenced.