The proceedings of the National Assembly turned ugly Tuesday when treasury and opposition lawmakers came face-to-face during a debate on skyrocketing inflation.
Taking part in a motion to discuss economic condition in the country, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari came down hard on the government for turning a "floundering economy into a sinking economy."
Recalling Prime Minister Imran Khan's past speeches that he would prefer suicide over rising inflation and going to the IMF for borrowing money, Bilawal said that Imran Khan broke both his promises and now was the time when he should call it a day as people were suffering due to record-breaking inflation and unemployment.
"After "PTIMF" deal, it's no more our economy, as it's the economy of IMF [International Monetary Fund], for the IMF and by the IMF," he said while referring to the PTI-led government's borrowing from the IMF.
Declaring the IMF deal as a "bad deal", Bilawal said that it was a poor deal which was negotiated poorly by those who have compromised on the rights of the people of, and the economic sovereignty of Pakistan.
In his fiery speech, the PPP chairperson said that the "whole politics of Imran Khan revolves around an ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] chief, adding 'if the prime minister is still not ready to accept that he is planted, he is ready to substantiate his claim through evidence."
National Assembly Speaker, Asad Qaiser expunged the remarks made by Bilawal against the prime minister, after a while the House descended into chaos, as both treasury and opposition members kept shouting at each other.
"This "incompetent and selected" government, which has been imposed on the people of Pakistan, has turned a flagging economy into sinking...unemployment and poverty are on their optimum levels, making it impossible for the common man to make both ends meet," Bilawal added.
Accusing the ruling PTI of borrowing a highest-ever loan in the country's history, he said that the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed that Rs11,000 billion loans had been borrowed during the last 15 months compared to Rs6,000 billion during the last 61 years.
Bilawal also mocked the government ministers, saying there was not a single minister in the front row as some "tiny ministers" could be seen there, adding the adviser to the prime minister on economy and finance should have been there to brief the house on the current economic situation.
Quoting the inflation figures given by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), he said that the inflation during the last 18 months surpassed all the records of the past 10 years.
On top of all this, the government has increased gas prices by 55pc, motor fuel by 76pc, and electricity charges by 14pc, Bilawal said, adding, "we are answerable to the people and the people are asking whether we should feed our children or pay our electricity and gas bills."
"It is beyond me, I don't understand how a majority of members of this House face their constituents," Bilawal added.
Acknowledging that Pakistan needs to document its economy, Bilawal maintained that the government made a mistake by trying to document the entire economy all in one go by hook or by crook.
"No other policy has strangled our economy than this one stubborn decision. Instead of taking conducive measures, the government is hiking up taxes, forcing everyone to shop and trade with CNICs overnight, relying on institutions such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to harass the working people of Pakistan," the PPP chairperson claimed.
About renaming of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as Ehsaas, Kafaalat Programme, he said what else can one expect from "tiny" politicians such as Imran Khan. The remarks led to raucous in the House.
Initiating the debate, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif lashed out at the government, saying the government is acting as a silent spectator as people are committing suicide due to unprecedented inflation.
He also brushed off the rumours that his party was conspiring against the government, saying, "we are neither a part of any conspiracy nor striking any deal with anyone to topple the PTI government, as its flawed policies and corruption are enough to expose it."
Responding to Bilawal Bhutto and Khawaja Asif's speech, the PTI minister Murad Saeed said that how dare a man who has become party chairman on a "fake will of his mother" call an elected prime minister "selected".
"If you could go a few years down the line, you must remember that it was you who was being briefed about fake accounts. This is how your father made fortune for and my leader [Imran Khan], made it to the power corridors through sheer hard work," Saeed hit back.
He said that the people who were expelled from the BISP were 21-22 grade officers who were obliged by the PPP under the pretext of giving relief to the poor, adding all those who do not deserve will be expelled from BISP as it is meant to benefit the poor.
Accusing the PPP of striking a plea bargain after they were found involved in theft of wheat from godowns in Sindh, Saeed said that the party which talks tall must not forget what they are into in the province where rampant corruption, famine and dog bites are some of the things which need to be addressed first.
In a sarcastic tone, the minister said that his party is going to catch all the "stray dogs" in Sindh which have made the lives of people miserable, adding once all the "stray dogs" are caught, the people will have a sigh of relief.
"We have brought most departments out of debt and are working to make them profitable. Tourism has doubled. Pakistan's image as perceived by the world has also improved. They are raising their voices against us but agriculture growth was negative during their tenure," he pointed out.
Saeed said that the treasury benches would not allow the opposition to speak if "Farzand-e-Zardari or son of Zardari" left the House next time without listening to the response of the ministers, as he has made it a routine.
Abdul Qadir Patel of the PPP seemed quite perturbed after Murad Saeed repeatedly called Bilawal as 'Farzand-e-Zardari or son of Zardari', and said the minister must stop talking tall or else he knew how to shut the mouths of people like him.
"My leader [Bilawal] is not of your caliber, so if you want him to stay in the house, ask your prime minister to come and face him," he said.
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