LAHORE: The News said on Thursday that Daniyal Aziz, the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is upset that his letter, which was sent a month ago in response to the party’s show-cause notice, was leaked.
When the party leadership was ready to make the final announcement of party tickets, the PML-N leader from Narowal claimed that the letter had been leaked to the media in an attempt to harm his name.
Aziz stated that his intention was not to cause harm to Ahsan Iqbal or the PML-N, but rather to ascertain the truth about inflation and its beneficiaries.
The party’s Punjab President, Rana Sanaullah Khan, sent Aziz a show-cause notice on November 30 asking him to explain his remarks against PML-N Secretary General. Aziz denied the foundation of the notice in the three-page letter that was leaked.
He claimed that since the party doctrine openly declared that the party sacrificed politics in order to save the economy, he had not broken it.
Aziz responded that he had not violated party discipline and that the show cause notice did not specify any particular disciplinary measure. The politician responded to the third point, which stated that what he had said was not factual, by stating that his reply was factual.
According to the PML-N leader, Iqbal, the Minister of Planning, must conduct “monthly meetings” and make decisions about inflation control independently in his capacity as chairman of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC).
Additionally, he was to make ideas for inflation control to the ECC in the capacity of the sponsor. But the planning minister only convened twice, in September 2022 and January 2023, ordering the Islamabad administration and provincial governments to forbid excessive profiteering by shops and to ensure that all associations were informed.
Similarly, the minister urged the chief commissioner to exercise control over the rising costs of necessities in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) during the NPMC meeting on January 26, 2023, voicing grave concerns about the situation. He said that Ahsan Iqbal was aware of his obligation.
But after being revealed, he made some recent public remarks in which he first said, “Mehngai ka dour dour se taluk hee nahin planning.”
Only to subsequently backpedal and acknowledge that the planning ministry plays a limited role in controlling inflation on Meher Abbasi’s television program on ARY.
“Inflation in Pakistan reached record levels during this period.” When Ahsan Iqbal presided over the inaugural NPMC SPI index meeting in September 2022, the index for daily use goods was at a painful 28.58%. In January 2023, during his second NPMC meeting, the SPI had risen to a startling 30.54%. The SPI then increased further, reaching an all-time high of 43% in May 2023, although no meetings were convened. Furthermore, throughout his term, there is no proof that he made any proposals to the ECC,” Danyal retorted.
Iqbal has blamed other variables for inflation in recent public remarks, including the money supply, currency rate, interest rate, and administered pricing. He questioned in his reply to the party, “If this is the case, then why was he giving directions to stop hoarding/profiteering and reduce the gap between wholesale and retail prices only?”
He also questioned why he had not concentrated on the money supply, exchange rate, interest rate, and administered prices, given the knowledge that such administrative actions only serve to increase inflation. Was he attempting to mislead the people? or lead the administration astray? It’s not shocking that he was unable to address Pakistan’s inflation problem as his Ministry had anticipated in the Annual Plan 2022–2023.
“The current year, 2023–2024 Although estimates for inflation for the year are now above 30%, Ahsan Iqbal’s aim is only 21%. As of November, annual inflation was recorded at 29.2 percent,” the author stated.
In response, he claimed that this was the Planning Commission’s most unprecedented failure to date. Iqbal’s recent remarks that Pakistan was experiencing “cost-push” inflation demonstrated his complete lack of professionalism as well as his disdain for any economic knowledge or accountability. Such remarks undoubtedly harm the party. He will now elucidate the true reasons of inflation so that voters can make an informed decision. The aforementioned proves that Ahsan Iqbal was unsuccessful.
In response to the fourth question, he stated that he hasn’t tried to harm the party.Aziz responded by claiming that Iqbal had already made public remarks that were against party policy and discipline, accusing him of waiting a long time to seek an MPA ticket for “lotas.” The party did not pay attention.
“Let me say this clearly: I have not asked for a ticket from any official or party representative. Actually, I had asked to speak with the party president over Awais Qasim’s attendance at the demonstration on October 21. On October 19, 2023, at 96 H, a meeting was held (image attached). Issues pertaining to his comeback were deliberated. Finally, the head of the party urged Awais Qasim to give the rally his whole attention.
Ahsan Iqbal broke party rules and discipline by publicly criticizing the party president’s decision because he was upset by these developments. This breach happened prior to him making any statements and has not been addressed by the party.
Regarding the last point—that he shouldn’t make any more utterances of that nature—he retorted that he hasn’t made any since getting show cause. But Ahsan Iqbal reiterated the point at multiple rallies he organized in his constituency for his son. Consequently, without any response from the party, continuing to transgress party rules and discipline. I would like to use my legal right to a personal hearing with party quaid as soon as possible in order to discuss additional matters that are related to this.
Upon being approached, Aziz stated that he had noticed that opposition members were misusing his remarks about inflation to blame the PML-N.
He claimed that the purpose of his remarks was to persuade Iqbal, the leader of the NPMC, and his party to disclose the true causes and recipients of Pakistan’s inflation.
“My intention was not to demonize any individual; rather, I wanted to educate the public about the true causes and beneficiaries of inflation that are causing suffering for the general public,” he declared. He went on to say that Ahsan Iqbal had correctly pointed out in recent remarks that the money supply, administered prices, interest rate, and exchange rate were the main causes of inflation.
“As I have said time and time again, I plan to uncover the truth about inflation and its beneficiaries.It is incorrect to interpret whatever I recently said against Ahsan Iqbal or the PML-N. He said, “I regret any harm this has caused to my party or Ahsan Iqbal.”
