Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee on Monday decided to continue the ongoing protest sit-in against the government. The committee, which met here at the Bani Gala residence of party Chief Imran Khan, condemned the disconnection of power supply to his residence.
It was decided that Imran Khan would not pay the electricity bills. The meeting questioned the government as to why the electricity supply to Ittefaq Foundry, owned by Sharif family, is not disconnected, which allegedly owes hundred of thousands of rupees to power companies.
According to a press release issued after the meeting, the PTI core committee challenged the government on Rs 70 billion electricity over-billing. It said the government paid off circular debt on the pretext of ending loadshedding, but it increased the frequency of power outages after the payment. It stated that electricity bills soared by 80 percent but even then there is Rs 1 billion loss per day.
It maintained that despite an increase in power tariff, the government "looted" Rs 79 billion hard-earned money from the nation through electricity over-billing. "The Committee demands this looted money be returned to the public and those responsible be brought to justice," it demanded. It reminded that the party has already moved the court against the electricity over billing.
Earlier, talking to media persons, PTI Vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PTI was ready to meet Speaker National Assembly for verification of their resignations if he calls them together. He said that the party has requested the National Assembly Speaker to summon all PTI lawmakers together for verification of their resignations. To a question, he said that if proved that the last year elections were rigged mid-term elections should be held for which PTI is ready.
Referring to a bye-election in NA-149 in Multan, he said that now the government after realising its defeat wanted to delay it. He also called upon the district administration of Multan to stay impartial in discharging their duties to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
He said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should not allow anyone to violate election code of conduct. To a question about the efforts by political Jirga to resolve the on-going political standoff, he alleged that the government was not willing to accept the demands of PTI. "The government should come up with its response whether or not it is ready to take the dialogue process to its logical conclusion," he added.