Disgruntled PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz unhappy over 'leaked letter'

• Aziz says he sought to identify facts regarding inflation.
• In leaked letter, Aziz rejects basis of party’s show-cause notice.
• My statement should not be construed against Iqbal, he says.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) disgruntled leader Daniyal Aziz has expressed dismay over the leak of his month-old letter in response to the party’s show-cause notice, The News reported on Thursday.

The letter, as per the PML-N leader from Narowal, was leaked to the media to damage his reputation when the party leadership was about to make the final announcement of party tickets.

Aziz said he had intended to identify the facts regarding inflation and its beneficiaries and not to harm PML-N or Ahsan Iqbal.

In the three-paged leaked letter, Aziz rejected the basis of the party’s show-cause notice issued to him by the party’s Punjab President Rana Sanaullah Khan in which he was asked to clarify his November 30 statement against PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal.

He said that he had not violated party policy because the party policy publicly stated that the party sacrificed its politics to save the economy.

In his reply to violating party discipline, Aziz said he has not done so and no specific disciplinary item has been identified in the show cause notice. The third point mentioned that what he said was not factual, in response to which the politician said his reply was, in fact, factual.

The PML-N leader said as chairman of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), the Minister of Planning, Iqbal was required to hold “monthly meetings” and make decisions regarding inflation control on his own. 

Also, he was to act as the sponsor for inflation control proposals by submitting them to ECC. However, the planning minister only held two meetings in September 2022 and January 2023 in which he directed the provincial governments and Islamabad administration to discourage undue profiteering by retailers, while also directing to keep all the associations in the loop.

Similarly, in the NPMC meeting held on 26th January 2023, the minister also expressed serious concerns over the increased prices of essential commodities in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and directed the chief commissioner to control them. He said Ahsan Iqbal knew this was his responsibility.

However, in recent public statements after he was exposed, he first stated “mehngai ka dour dour se taluk hee nahin planning ministry se" (planning ministry has nothing to do with inflation). Only to later take a UTurn and admit on Meher Abbasi's television programme on ARY that the planning ministry has a limited role in inflation control.

During this period "inflation in Pakistan reached record levels. In September 2022, when Ahsan Iqbal chaired the first meeting of NPMC SPI index for the daily use items was at an excruciating 28.58%. At the time of his second NPMC meeting In January 2023 SPI had reached an eye-popping 30.54%. Subsequently, SPI continued to rise to an all-time high record of 43% in May 2023 yet no meetings were held. Further there is no evidence of any proposals to ECC throughout his tenure," Danyal replied.

In recent public statements, Iqbal has stated other factors such as exchange rate, interest rate, money supply and administered prices as the cause of inflation. If this was the case why was he giving directions to stop hoarding/ profiteering and reduce the gap between wholesale and retail prices only, he questioned in his reply to the party.

He further questioned that when it was known that such administrative measures only add to inflation why did he not focus on the exchange rate, money supply, interest rate and administered prices? Was he trying to fool the public? Or misguide the administration? It’s not surprising that he was unable to respond effectively to the inflation Pakistan was facing as his Ministry in the Annual Plan 2022-23 predicted inflation to be 11.5pc for the year while actually, it reached 29.2pc almost three times as high.

"This year 2023-24 Ahsan Iqbal’s target for inflation is stated at 21pc whereas the predictions are already for above 30pc for the year. Currently, annual inflation has clocked in at 29.2pc up till November," he wrote.

In his reply, he said this was an unheard-of failure in the history of the Planning Commission. The total lack of professionalism and abandonment of any economic knowledge and responsibility was seen in recent statements of Iqbal who said that Pakistan was facing “cost-push” inflation. Such statements certainly damage the party. Going forward, he will explain the real causes of inflation so that voters can judge. What the above establishes is that Ahsan Iqbal failed.

Answering the fourth part, he said he has not attempted to damage the party rather he has pointed out those who have damaged the party.

In his reply, Aziz claimed that Iqbal had made public statements violating party discipline and policy by accusing him of seeking an MPA ticket for “lotas” long before he made any statement. The party failed to take notice.

“Let me categorically state I have not approached any party person or office for any ticket. In fact, I had sought a meeting with the party president about the participation of Awais Qasim in the October 21 rally. The meeting took place at 96 H on October 19, 2023 (picture attached). Matters regarding his return were discussed. In conclusion, the party president encouraged Awais Qasim to participate in the rally with full vigour. Awais Qasim participated by taking a huge rally in Lahore,” he said adding Ahsan Iqbal was in knowledge of this fact. Being frustrated by these developments it was Ahsan Iqbal who has violated party discipline and policy by making public statements against the decision of the party president. This violation took place before he made any statement and remains unaddressed by the party.

Over the last point that he should not further give such statements, he replied that since receiving show cause he has not made any statement. “However, Ahsan Iqbal held several rallies in his constituency for his son reiterating the issue. Thus, continuing to violate party policy and party discipline without any action by the party. I request to exercise my legal right for a personal hearing with party quaid at the earliest so that I may address other issues that relate to this show cause notice. Any other laxity may kindly be waived as I have had multiple surgeries and treatments over the past months and therefore was unable to respond. The record can be provided if required,” he concluded.

When contacted, Aziz said it had come to his notice that his statement regarding inflation was being misused by opposition elements to hold PML-N responsible.

He said his statement was aimed to encourage his party and Iqbal as head of the NPMC to present the real reasons and beneficiaries of inflation in Pakistan.

“My intent was not to vilify any individual rather it was to inform the public of the real reasons and beneficiaries behind inflation causing public misery,” he said. He further said that Ahsan Iqbal has himself rightly highlighted in recent statements that the interest rate, exchange rate, money supply and administered prices were responsible for inflation.

“As I have repeatedly stated I intend to identify the facts regarding inflation and its beneficiaries in the coming week so that voters may judge fairly.

My recent statement should not be construed against Ahsan Iqbal or PML-N. Any damage to my party and Ahsan Iqbal in this regard is regretted,” he concluded.