Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directly attacked Imran Khan and the country’s economic situation on Friday when he addressed the first public demonstration of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in the city of Gujranwala. Sharif addressed the rally of the newly formed joint opposition alliance, which is headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat-Ulema Islam (F), virtually from London.
“The smiling faces that I left look grim today. Gujranwala has always loved Nawaz Sharif. I speak to you after three years. Many things have changed in the last three years, ”he told the audience. “If I had not been removed from the post of prime minister, the country and the economy would have been in much better condition today,” Sharif said during the rally, which many said was attended by thousands.
From unemployment to the prices of gold and basic items like medicines, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) attacked the Pakistani government Tehreek-e-Insaf on multiple fronts. Heard that the cost of the gold tola has exceeded 110k. Will someone tell me how a poor man’s daughter will marry? The PTI government used to say that they will give 10 million jobs, but around 15 million people have become unemployed in this government. They said they will give five million houses. Tell me, has anyone got only one house? ” I ask.
In the speech by Sharif, 70, who has been in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to travel abroad for four weeks for treatment, India also figures. During his time as prime minister, Sharif said, the government stood firm with the nuclear tests it conducted in response to tests carried out by India. “But we saw the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, visit us and talk to us,” he said. He was referring to Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Pakistan in 2015.
Read also | Imran Khan’s government would ‘go home’ before January: Maryam Nawaz
Sharif also recalled the comments of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Minar-e-Pakistan visitor book in Lahore. What beautiful feelings he expressed. Wasn’t Pakistan better? “he asked.” Some people have a wish that my voice does not reach you, but their conspiracies will fail, “he said.
The three-time prime minister also attacked Pakistan’s military, saying it “split the country in two.” Sharif directly accused the chief of the army, General Qamar Bajwa, and Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of rigging the elections and making fabricated cases of corruption against opposition leaders. “They have to be held accountable for their crimes.”
Sharif, who is currently out on bail and faces multiple corruption charges, also accused the army and the intelligence agency of being behind his removal as prime minister and installing his “puppet government” by bringing Imran Khan to power. “General Qamar Javed Bajwa put an end to my rule. He rigged the 2018 elections and imposed the incapable Imran Khan on the nation. Gen Bajwa is a direct culprit and will have to give an answer to this, ”he said.
PML (N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, also Sharif’s daughter, was also at the rally in Gujranwala, as was the President of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Maryam Nawaz was silenced on a live broadcast when she began speaking out against Gen Bajwa. The next PDM rally is scheduled for Sunday in Karachi.
.
