Opposition leader in the Punjab assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar has accused both the federal and provincial governments led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of straining the people with heavy taxation, abusing fuel prices and politicizing the recent Swat-tourist tragedy.
When he spoke at a press conference here on Wednesday, Bhachar condemned the federal government’s hike overnight in gasoline and diesel prices and called it “ironic” in the midst of falling global oil prices. He said that the introduction of over RS100 per Liters of tax on oil products would have a direct and disproportionate influence on farmers and low -income households.
“Just days after presenting the budget with promises of relief, the government raised tax on fuel,” he said. “In the meantime, farmers have been completely ignored.”
Bhachar also accused Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of misleading the public by claiming that the provincial budget was tax-free. “In fact, even small two-Marla houses were taxed,” he claimed.
When he turned to the recent deaths of tourists in SWAT, the opposition leader accused the Punjab government of politicizing the tragedy. He said that instead of pointing fingers, the province’s administration should reflect on his own shortcomings.
“While the nation is mourning the loss of life in Swat, who will respond to the 23 children who died due to oxygen deficiency in Pakpattan, or the 20 newborns who died during deliveries for a single week?” He asked.
He condemned the reported closure of 1,132 basic health centers over Punjab, which he claimed would affect about 130,000 employees – many with decades of service. “These individuals deserve an explanation,” he said, adding that the provincial government had not yet made a public declaration of children’s fatal accidents or the breakdown of healthcare.
In a comment on the suspension of opposition legislators, Bhachar claimed that the move was a tactic to adopt legislation without dissence. “The authority to request the assembly was removed from us,” he said. “We’ve already called it a false assembly. Our leader, Imran Khan, praised the legislators who opposed and protested against figures like Maryam Nawaz.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) announced Punjab leadership preparations for a provincial protest campaign against what it described as “inhuman treatment” by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“In light of this oppression and injustice, protest is now our only remaining opportunity,” the leaders claimed in a statement. The planned protest follows directives from PTI cartridge-in-chief Imran Khan to resist what the party calls ongoing violations of constitutional and legal order.
