Pakistan: first day of Ramadan clouded by a political and economic crisis
Security personnel patrol outside the parliament building in Islamabad on April 3, 2022 as Prime Minister Imran Khan called on his supporters to take to the streets today ahead of a parliamentary vote of no confidence that could see him removed from office.
AFP - AAMIR QURESHI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
It is in a context of political and economic crisis that the fifth most populous country in the world begins the first day of Ramadan this Sunday, a sacred period in Islam.
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With our special correspondent in Karachi,
Sonia Ghezali
Fruits and vegetables spread out on the stalls of the local market in the Lines district.
Watermelons, melon, guavas, fresh herbs, peppers, green peppers… Maryam goes shopping to cook samosas and pakoras, vegetable fritters, for breaking the fast.
“
The bunch of coriander was 10 rupees last year,
this year it costs
20
rupees
“, she testifies.
With the salary of her husband, a teacher in a public school, the mother of six children cannot make ends meet.
“
We are used to cooking a lot of meat, but we won't be able to eat as much this year.
Chicken has become very expensive.
We cooked half a kilo per meal, we will only cook 250 grams this month.
Same for vegetables
,” says the mother.
“Who can buy vegetables at this price?
»
Chanda also roams the stalls and compares prices.
“
Green beans are 100 rupees per kilo, that's the amount for one meal only.
Who can buy vegetables at this price?
she wonders.
She is shopping with one of her friends.
“
Chicken is very expensive now.
Even if we decide to buy it how could we cook it?
Oil is expensive, spices are expensive, and you have to cook it with all that.
But everything is too expensive.
I don't know how I will feed my family during Ramadan.
I pray to God to help us and put something to eat on the table
,” she says.
Vote of a motion of no confidence
The consumer price index rose 15% last week in Pakistan.
Inflation is the highest in all of Southeast Asia, putting the power in place in difficulty.
In addition to the economic context, it is in a tense political climate that Ramadan begins in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister is targeted by a motion of censure and the vote of no confidence must take place in the morning this Sunday.
Imran Khan, who lost his majority in Parliament,
risks losing his place.
The former International cricketer is accused by his opponents
of economic mismanagement and clumsiness in foreign policy.
The government must also face the increased threat from the Pakistani Taliban of the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), who announced on Wednesday that they wanted to launch an “
offensive
” against the security forces during Ramadan.
The Prime Minister called on his supporters to demonstrate peacefully on Sunday against what he described on Saturday as a "conspiracy" organized abroad to oust him from power.
“
I have a plan for tomorrow, don't worry.
I will show them and I will defeat them in front of the congregation
,” he promised on Saturday.
(with AFP)
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