The party’s general secretary says economic difficulties, poor public services, political repression reflect government failures
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Thursday slammed the federal government over what he described as deteriorating financial conditions, poor governance and the continued detention of the party’s leadership.
Addressing a press conference along with PTI Lahore President Mian Usman Akram, Raja referred to his recent visit to Kahna in NA-123, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s constituency, where he condoled with the families of children who lost their lives after the roof of a private educational center collapsed.
He said the incident exposed systemic deficiencies that had left children from underprivileged families without adequate access to education and health care.
“The tragic loss of 14 young lives in their pursuit of education reflects the dark reality of this system,” Raja said, adding that PTI, under the leadership of founder Imran Khan, will continue to advocate for disadvantaged communities in and outside Parliament.
Describing conditions in the area, Raja said residents were living amid deteriorating infrastructure, including damaged roads.
“This is the reality of a constituency represented by the Prime Minister himself. It reflects a system fundamentally based on lies and barbarism,” he said.
Read more: 14 children died when roof of Lahore education center collapses
The PTI leader said despite the government presenting five federal budgets, financial difficulties remained evident across the country. He said PTI considered itself not only as a political party but also as a social force that would continue to stand with people facing economic hardship.
Citing a report by the World Bank, Raja claimed it questioned the federal government’s spending and alleged that appointments had been made in departments that were expected to be abolished. He said expectations to reduce federal spending after the 18th amendment had not been met.
Raja also said that around 40% of children in Pakistan were out of school, while many of those enrolled continued to lack access to quality education.
He said the PTI would strengthen its role as a social force despite what he described as state attacks, adding that the party would continue its political activities.
Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja claimed that residents were facing repression, internet services had been suspended and several deaths had occurred.
Read also: Child killed, four injured when wall under construction collapses in Lahore
He also reiterated PTI’s position that Imran and Bushra Bibi had been jailed in what he described as an illegal case.
Rejecting suggestions that the PTI had been weakened, Raja said the party remained united and would continue its political struggle.
“We stand firm and will not back down. Victory will be ours and that time is not far off,” he said.
