LAHORE (Web Desk/Republic policy) – Three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that some characteristics had surfaced and destroyed Pakistan when the country was on the path to development during his last government – the 2013-17 stint.
Addressing a meeting of the PML-N parliamentary board at the party’s headquarters at Model Town, Nawaz questioned why the country was handed over to an amateur – concerning his conviction in the cases related to the Panama Papers and the 2018 elections widely believed to be rigged.
The former prime minister again asked why he was repeatedly removed from office when the steps taken by his government were helping Pakistan march forward. “We should know [the reason] why we [my government] was toppled again and again.”
“Why I was removed in 1999? Was it because of Kargil [the adventure launched by the then army chief Pervez Musharraf after Pakistan and India signed the Lahore Declaration],” he added that time had proved that the decisions taken by the then government were right.
His government was able to ensure the visits of Indian prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi during the previous two terms, said Nawaz, who champions the cause of regional connectivity and peace and stressed the need for resolving issues and improving relationships with the neighbouring countries.
Moving forward, Nawaz said the 2017 episode was designed to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), recalling that Chinese President Xi Jinping had told him personally that “the CPEC is a gift to you.”
He said Pakistan would have defaulted if the PDM had not decided to intervene as everything had paralysed by 2022 – last year, which saw the removal of the PTI government through a no-confidence motion to be replaced by the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition arrangement.
Nawaz said the electricity tariff had increased only because of the PTI, adding that the devaluation of the rupee was the reason behind the unprecedented inflation in the country.
Nawaz, who stands for a strong currency and low-interest rates, said electricity tariffs had increased only because of the PTI, adding that the devaluation of the rupee was the reason behind the unprecedented inflation in the country.
He told the PML-N leaders and the candidates applying for party tickets that they would be victorious in the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8 as he eyes a fourth term. This feat was unimaginable for many till a few months back.
In 2018, the PML-N was also set to win the elections based on its performance, as suggested by the opinion prevailing during that period in 2017, he said. But, he added, everything was managed and fabricated since 2017 to get the desired results in 2018.
