From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif spoke against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government over its apparent failure in controlling inflation and poverty, adding that his part was not acting against the prime minister, but that they were working for the people.
The former prime minister said the above while addressing a meeting of PML-N’s Central Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday via video link, adding that he was “pained” to see the existing state of affairs in the country where the poor were unable to afford food and send their children to school. “Is this what the ‘state of Madina’ looks like?” he questioned, adding that the PTI government had failed to fulfil its “tall promises”.
“You have destroyed Pakistan in every field,” he said while addressing the government, and asked where the 10 million jobs were that it had promised to the people.
“Where are the people who brought you into power? They should answer to the nation as well.” He reiterated that the opposition’s fight was not against Prime Minister Imran Khan, who supposedly “stole the election”.
“We don’t give any importance to him. He is a selected prime minister which you have imposed upon this country Those who brought this gift to us should answer why did they steal the election and mandate of the Pakistani people?” he questioned.
“And no one should try to shut me up. Because I won’t,” he said amid applause and cheers from party workers. The former premier claimed that the Pakistani people were prosperous until 2018 and the PML-N had started development projects in all sectors during its tenure. “There was adequate electricity again, terrorism ended, the economy was skyrocketing, poverty was ending, the gas too became available, people were getting employment [and] Pakistan was on its way to join the G20,” the former premier said.
However, he commented that at the moment, Pakistan is the most backwards country in South Asia and that no other country is ready to stand with them. He said the PTI government had spent more funds on the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project than the combined cost of the Lahore, Islamabad and Multan Metro bus projects started by the PML-N.
“Our growth rate was 5.8 per cent and today it is nearing -1.4 per cent,” he remarked, adding that the PML-N government had kept the dollar exchange rate and prices of everyday commodities under control. “Those who brought Imran Khan into power are responsible for increasing inflation in the country and ruining the economy, he said, adding, “Now you are responsible for everything including the power and devastation of the national economy. You are responsible for why rupee is falling against the Dollar. It was Rs 100 and now it is around Rs 170”.
Referring to the motorway and Nankana Sahib rape incidents, he said criminals were “roaming freely” today unlike during the PML-N tenure. Yesterday, the PML-N supremo claimed he has been informed that “someone else” was running the parliament houses, in lieu of its members.
The address to the central executive committee of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) comes almost two weeks after Sharif, who has been residing in London since November last year on the pretext of medical treatment, marked his return to the political ring almost after two years.
