PTI leader Ahmed Awais warns of protests if local body polls face rigging issues

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ahmed Awais said that during his government, the country had the highest foreign exchange reserves of $28 billion in its history.

He said that Pakistan’s exports had reached $37 billion in 2021, which was the result of sound economic decisions at that time. Ahmed Awais claimed that today’s government is distorting the facts, while records and figures can be checked.

He warned that if a situation similar to the general elections arises in the local body elections and issues of Form 45 or Form 47 come to the fore, then public protests will be inevitable.

He said that even if the by-elections are rigged, the people will not sit silent, and all this will become a part of history because the system is exposing itself. He was speaking on ABN News’ program “Sawaal Sa Age” and said that

On the other hand, PML-N leader Khel Das Kohistani, while speaking on the program, said that the fact is that PTI had brought the country to the brink of default, but the PML-N government supported the economy by taking timely decisions.

He said that Field Marshal is getting respect all over the world today, while PTI is doing politics of protest. He said that whenever the country is on the path of development, PTI obstructs it by writing letters to the IMF.

Khel Das Kohistani further said that our leadership has also been in jail, but has never damaged national property. He was of the view that the IMF agreement was in the interest of Pakistan, not of any individual; however, PTI broke it.

He said that the PML-N had prevented the State Bank from going under the control of the IMF so that the country’s sovereignty would not be compromised.

This debate once again highlights the different narratives on the political and economic situation in Pakistan, where on one hand the PTI is emphasizing the economic record of its tenure, while on the other hand the PML-N is taking credit for saving the country from bankruptcy.

This situation has further heated electoral politics, and public reaction could play a decisive role in the upcoming local government and by-elections.