As the elections in February 2024 get near, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Nawaz, has taken a firm stance against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and demanded that its erstwhile coalition partner take accountability as well.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been referring to the PML-N as the “mehangai [inflation] league” and claiming that the Nawaz Sharif-led party was the only one to blame for the price increases over the 16-month period, implying that the PPP had no part in the price increases.
The PPP, PML-N, and numerous other parties were part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which came to an end in August of this year with record-high inflation, surging energy and gasoline prices, and a precipitous decline in foreign reserves.
During the period, one of the worst economic crises ever experienced was compounded by political unrest, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, taking to the streets to protest the overthrow of their government. The phrase “Pakistan is going to default” was often used during that time, but it was eventually dropped after Pakistan was able to obtain a short-term arrangement from the International Monetary Fund.
During the PDM government, Musadik Malik held the position of Minister of State for Petroleum. He criticized Bilawal for blaming the PML-N for growing prices in an interview with Geo News’ “Capital Talk” segment, pointing out that all choices made during their 16-month tenure were made together.
In a jab at Bilawal, Malik pointed out that although the PPP chairman held the position of foreign minister, he had undercut him when attempting to negotiate an energy agreement with Russia at a time when the nation’s gas prices were hitting record highs.
“So, he referred to it as truck ki batti [false hope] when I finalized an oil deal with Russia and the minister who held the portfolio of Foreign Ministry.” What did that consist of? He ought to discuss his role as well. Was it my responsibility to close transactions in Russia’s Azerbaijan? And you claimed it was truck ki batti while you were seated in the US. “So, while we were following this truck ki batti, didn’t we arrive at our destination?” Malik was asked.
Reports that Pakistan was looking to buy oil from Russia were refuted by then-foreign minister Bilawal at his news conference at the UN in December 2022. He added, “It is nothing more than truck ki batti,” as Malik was declaring that an agreement had been reached to buy “discounted” oil from Russia.
In June of this year, Pakistan imported about two oil cargoes from Russia; however, the ministers in charge at the time made it clear that while the oil was cheaper, its effects would not be seen immediately by the general public.
Reiterating that Bilawal should not criticize his former coalition partners, Malik pointed out that the PPP performed admirably during their time in office.
It’s not nice that I sit here and criticize [this]. The Peoples Party, in my opinion, did a good job. We made tough choices, and the Peoples Party supported us at every turn.
“But this is injustice,” he continued. I will question his foreign policy when he opposed the Russian oil agreement if we start criticizing each other. These remarks exhibit recklessness. In the previous government, we were a group. Our duties were divided between us.
“They had ministries of commerce, industries, foreign policy, and climate change. This implies that they were to blame for everything that went wrong in the industrial sector. The trade deficits were partly their fault. Not only them, though; we too. They alter their unfair behavior, which is this
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