Nothing wrong with taking U-turn over approaching IMF: Khursheed Shah

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah on Wednesday took a hit at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and said there is “nothing wrong in taking a U-turn” on the decision to approach the International Monetary Fund.

“Members of PTI had said they will not approach the IMF and Prime Minister Imran Khan while he was in the Opposition had stated that he should be hanged if he seeks financial aid,” Shah said while addressing a National Assembly session summoned to protest over the arrest of opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif.

“But now that you are going to IMF, there is nothing wrong in taking a U-turn over it,” he added. “The Constitution does not state that you cannot take a U-turn and it is not a sin,” the PPP leader further said.

In an apparent dig at Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Shah said, “Those who were our spokespersons until yesterday are now sitting on the other side. They jumped ship after looking at the glossy surface of the other side.”

Criticising the rise in inflation in the last two months, the PPP leader said, “The price of roti has increased from Rs7 to Rs10 and dollar has gone up by Rs17. Even after such a big change, they are saying ‘tabdeeli’ has not yet come.”

"The debt increased as soon as they assumed power. The stock exchanged dropped from 52,000 points to 36,000 points. Why does nobody talk about inflation and the crumbling economy?" he asked. Shah further said, "People are worried and the government is also fearful. 

"We want the Parliament to run and the government to fulfill its agenda," he added.

Slamming Shehbaz's arrest, Shah said, "For the first time since 1988 a sitting leader of the opposition has been arrested. We are not scared that this arrest will bring disaster and have asked the government to make a committee to look into this matter."

Stating that his political career spans over 30 years, the PPP leader said, "There should be an investigation regarding where we have done this corruption that they [government] speaks of."

"We do not know politics of hurling abuses," he further said.