Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Says Government Failed; Claims IMF Report Criticizes Judiciary and Was Hidden from Public

Islamabad: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Awami Party convener Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused the government of failing to improve governance and control corruption, stating that the recently released IMF report also raises serious questions about the judiciary. He claimed that the government kept the report hidden from the public.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside party leader Miftah Ismail, Abbasi said that the IMF’s governance and corruption report highlights issues that directly affect the country’s economy. He added that the findings only reaffirm concerns they have been raising for a long time, and that the report contains nothing new.

Abbasi said the government has been unable to implement meaningful reforms or curb corruption. He emphasized that the IMF report also questions the performance of the judiciary and must be taken seriously. “Why did the government hide this report from the people?” he asked, noting that it was released to the public six months late.

He said unemployment has reached a historic high of 7.1%, forcing many young people to leave the country. No economic reforms have been introduced, he claimed, further worsening the situation.

Abbasi added that the IMF report covers only the federal government, but including provinces would expose an even larger scale of corruption. “It is unclear why the government is unable to address these issues,” he said, noting that the IMF warns corruption will continue to impede economic growth unless urgent reforms are enacted.

The former premier further stated that the IMF specifically highlighted concerns regarding the rule of law and judicial performance. “The accountability system has completely failed,” he said, adding that all stakeholders share responsibility for the country’s condition. “Dialogue is the only solution. Accountability should be across the board.”

Commenting on Nawaz Sharif, Abbasi said the PML-N leader is free to express his political views, and that they will engage with anyone who works in Pakistan’s national interest. He added that recent constitutional amendments hold no benefit for the people. “Pakistan cannot function without adherence to the Constitution. We stand with anyone who works for its supremacy,” he concluded.