Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday declared himself as a homegrown prime minister, rejecting the notion of being an “imported” leader, lamenting that the “enemies of the nation” did not tolerate his government and toppled it abruptly.
The former prime minister and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, took the stage at an election rally in Nankana Sahib and directed barbs at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, without explicitly naming him.
The PML-N leaders lashed out at Imran, describing him as an “unsuccessful prime minister who shot himself in the foot”. “I was not an imported prime minister, I was a local prime minister and he was a failed prime minister,” Nawaz told the rally.
“The enemies of the country did not give us a chance and toppled our government through a conspiracy; otherwise, the motorway would have reached here from Sukkur,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif positioned himself as a leader capable of redressing the public’s grievances, particularly in the face of rising inflation and price hikes.
He urged the masses to recall the performance of the previous PML-N government from 2013-18.
“Who ended the 18-hour load shedding? In whose tenure was sugar sold at Rs50 a kilo, and vegetables, pulses, flour, and gas were more affordable?” he urged the people to consider these facts before deciding their vote in the upcoming elections.
“We were handcuffed for the ‘crime’ of constructing the Gwadar port and airport, bringing peace to Karachi, establishing a network of motorways, and launching Green, Red, and Orange line buses and trains,” he said.
“What was your enmity against me? Was it because I used to work?”
Without naming, he said there was an “unsuccessful prime minister” during whose tenure, the rate of bread went up from Rs4 to Rs20, sugar from Rs50 to Rs150, the dollar rose from Rs104 to 275,” he said. “Why did all this happen?”
The PML-N supremo promised to deliver hospitals, education, and basic facilities in Nankana Sahib. “I am not the prime minister who makes promises and forgets, and takes one U-turn after another. Lies upon lies are not our style.”
Addressing the rally, PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz said that no one conspired [against Imran] rather he shot himself in the foot. “Our competition is not with any person but with inflation. Our competition is with expensive electricity, gas, sugar, flour and bread,” she added.
“Nawaz Sharif gave relief to the people in his every tenure. Therefore, on February 8, vote for the PML-N so that Nawaz Sharif can save you from inflation and unemployment. Yes, Nawaz Sharif is a Ladla [favourite], but he is the Ladla of the people.”
