Kh Asif asks Shehbaz, Dar to come back to Pakistan amid cost of living crisis

Khawaja Asif, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has called for the immediate return of party president Shehbaz Sharif and prominent member Ishaq Dar to Pakistan in light of growing public discontent over the soaring cost of living and rampant inflation. Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s planned homecoming, initially set for October, has been postponed.

Asif emphasized the importance of staying closely connected with the public during these times of unrest. He stressed that distancing oneself from the people is not a solution to the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.

Speaking on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj with Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ the former defence minister underscored that even if Nawaz Sharif’s return is delayed due to the absence of election dates, both the former premier and the former finance minister should promptly return to address the mounting criticism directed at the party for its decisions during its previous term in power.

Asif pointed out that PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz is actively maintaining contact with the public, and other party members, including Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), are stationed in their respective constituencies.

Regarding the decisions made during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government, Asif acknowledged the challenging economic situation and state of the country when their term began. He clarified that while the PML-N was part of the PDM coalition government, the party did not bear sole responsibility for those decisions.

However, Asif emphasized that the PML-N accepts its share of responsibility as a member of the cabinet. He stated that the party leadership had not anticipated the magnitude of the challenges when Ishaq Dar returned to Pakistan, resulting in an unforeseen crisis.

Despite acknowledging their awareness of the nation’s problems, Asif admitted that the party had fallen short in delivering solutions over the past 16 months. He also pointed out that they were aware of electricity theft issues and identified markets as one of the primary locations for power theft.

Khawaja Asif’s call for the immediate return of key party figures reflects the party’s recognition of the pressing need to address public concerns and potentially reassess their approach to the current economic and political landscape.