Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said he held the “facilitators” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan equally responsible for the decline of Pakistan’s economy and diplomacy.
Addressing a gathering of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)’s newly elected parliamentarians in Lahore, he said the by-elections had defeated “lies, abuse, indecency, immorality, and chaos.” Asserting that the former PTI government had brought Pakistan’s economy and diplomacy to the brink of collapse, he said former Prime Minister Khan wasn’t solely responsible.
“Those who brought him [Imran Khan] are equally responsible,” he said, calling for action against all those involved. He did not specifically identify who he was referring to.
According to Sharif, the country was progressing rapidly during his previous tenure from 2013-2017. He claimed he had freed Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral lending institutions. He said if the pace of development had continued, the country would be enjoying a more significant place in the global community.
Lamenting that the PTI government had reversed the economic and diplomatic gains of his government, he accused the rival party of promoting a culture of indecency in the country. “In the previous government’s tenure, the country only saw destruction,” he said, adding that it appeared the PTI government had only come into power to “play cricket.”
During his address, Sharif lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for helping the country achieve an economic and diplomatic recovery. He maintained the incumbent government saved the country from default and controlled inflation within 1.5 years. He said he expected the country to reach new heights of development and prosperity.
The former prime minister also slammed the PTI for announcing it was boycotting the by-elections and then fielding candidates in several constituencies as independents. “What kind of boycott was it that Omar Ayub’s wife was contesting?” he questioned, saying the PTI candidates were canvassing while holding the party founder’s portraits.
‘Sweeping victory’
During the gathering, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz maintained it wasn’t an easy task to end the politics of her father, Nawaz Sharif. “Every time, a new group of conspirators appears. Every time, they claim that Nawaz Sharif’s politics has ended,” she said, noting her family had endured several hardships due to personal enmity.
She recalled that when the PMLN assumed power after the ouster of Imran Khan, its opponents had predicted the country would default. “Today, people are no longer paying attention to their calls,” she claimed.
Maryam credited the PMLN’s victory in the by-elections to service delivery of both its governments at the center and in the Punjab.