ISLAMABAD : Prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif, is likely to address to the nation on Friday.
The political pundits are giving extra ordinary significance to the prime minister’s expected address to the nation.
The political arena got fueled with speculations soon after the media reports that the prime minister is likely to announce dissolution of the assemblies and call mid term elections in the country. Some informed circles contradicted these speculations and claimed that the prime minister will take the nation into confidence on the current political and economic situation of the country. Shahbaz government is facing daunting challenges on almost all fronts. It’s facing the worst ever financial crisis due to fast depleting forex reserves and a situation wherein the national economy is in shambles and at the same time its facing big political challenge from ousted prime minister , Imran Khan , and his party which is demanding mid term elections in the country.
Imran government’s irresponsible decisions taken particularly in the last two months have brought Pakistan down to the knees. The ousted government intentionally delayed import of furnace oil and liquified natural gas ( LNG) to create a power crisis in the country when it was sure of losing the power, besides giving subsidy on the power and petroleum prices to add unbearable financial pressure on the economy and subsequently cause irreparable loss to the national economy. The purpose of such decisions taken by PTI government was to push Pakistan into a position where it could default on the international repayment of loans . The PTI’s dangerous plan worked well to the expectations of its chief and other who are working with him to damage Pakistan. The new government despite its best efforts is feeling difficult in pulling Pakistan back from a situation where its default is looming imminently .
But shrewd and cunning Imran Khan is not letting the new government succeed in pulling Pakistan back from the brink of disaster . He is continuously building pressure on the government through public power shows to foil its efforts to save Pakistan from default.
Shahbaz government is not only facing monster of economic or political crisis, but its woes multiplied with a recent court decision which barred it from taking any administrative measures for transfer and posting in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). This court decision has literally left Shahbaz government in total disarray. Now the question arises where Shahbaz government can go from here ?. Will it take these daunting challenges upfront or it will take gloves off and let Pakistan fall to the dangerous fate or will it defeat the on-going deep- rooted conspiracy and steer Pakistan out of worsening crisis. The answer to all these questions will come from the address of Shahbaz Sharif to the nation probably tomorrow .
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Arif Rana is the Chief Editor and senior correspondent, Islamabad based journalist, who did his Master in English Literature from Government College University Lahore.