Islamabad, May 3 — Pakistan’s opposition on Saturday launched a coordinated assault on the federal government, accusing it of failing to rein in rising inflation and of curbing media freedoms, a Dawn report said.
Leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Inslaf (PTI) and allied parties described the administration as inept and accused it of using heavy-handed tactics to remain in power. At a press briefing, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai urged the intelligence agencies to stop intervening in politics, while PTI representatives detailed the economic and social strain on ordinary citizens.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram faulted the government’s economic management, saying double-digit inflation has surpassed official estimates and driven up the cost of energy, transport and food. He rejected explanations that blamed only global factors, arguing that neighbouring countries faced similar pressures yet responded more effectively.
Akram said repeated increases in petroleum prices have compounded inflation, making essentials such as transport, electricity, wheat and vegetables unaffordable for many. The party demanded an immediate reduction in the petroleum levy and other measures to provide concrete relief.
On media freedom, Akram cited a Reporters Without Borders finding that media independence is at a critical low globally and warned Pakistan was following that trend. He accused the government of intensifying pressure, censorship and harassment of journalists and of using legal tools to silence dissent, practices he called corrosive to democracy.
The PTI spokesman also criticized what he termed a “selective” anti-encroachment campaign in Islamabad, alleging evictions disproportionately target the poor while affluent properties are left alone. He extended his criticism to the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government, disputing claims of strong healthcare delivery and saying more than three-quarters of senior health management posts in the province remain vacant, contributing to vulnerabilities to HIV, dengue and malaria.
Achakzai warned the security establishment against political meddling, saying continued interference risks internal instability. He alleged an environment engineered to exclude Imran Khan, with prominent leaders jailed and questionable figures placed in assemblies. He pointed to measures taken against a party symbol and restrictions on the incarcerated former prime minister as signs of institutional weakening.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Pakistanis cannot be silenced, insisting that Imran Khan’s health and release are central to the party’s agenda and linking the poor’s survival to his freedom. He affirmed the party will press on with efforts to secure the release of Khan and other detainees, the Dawn report added.
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