LAHORE – PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday mocked PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over his repeated invitation to a live debate, citing the example of heavy rain paralyzing daily life in Karachi, which he said was enough to compare the performance of two hillside.
Media persons had reported few weeks back that the PML-N leadership could not face the people and decided to stay at home, he recalled and noted that the massive rallies held in various cities were proof of how much love and support the masses had for Nawaz Sharif – the three-time prime minister, who is looking at a record fourth office.
Addressing a press conference, he said that it seems people will give PML-N a clear mandate to rule the country for the next five years.
On the alleged political victimization of the PTI founder, Shehbaz said that the same person at the time when he himself resorted to corrupt practices, claimed that he would spare no one and send everyone to jail as rivals were accused in false cases. .
Democracy does not mean that a person involved in illegal activities should be forgiven, he argued in response to a question.
Millions of voters would decide their future with the February 8 ballots that his party was going to take, Shehbaz said while listing his party’s achievements under Nawaz Sharif’s rule in the past.
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Shehbaz said Pakistan had seen billions of dollars in investment during the elder Sharif’s 2013-2017 rule – the largest in the country’s history – but the corruption perception index measured by Transparency International had fallen.
He mentioned that all sorts of allegations have been leveled against the Nawaz government; however, nothing was proven due to the baseless nature of the allegations. Millions of people have benefited from the projects – including highways and mass transport systems – launched by the PML-N, Shehbaz added.
On the other hand, the corruption perception index rose during PTI’s tenure in government, he noted, citing instances of first allowing exports and then imports of sugar and wheat — moves that caused a loss. billion dollars to Pakistan.
The PML-N president reiterated the case of destruction of people-oriented services and facilities like PKLI and hepatitis centers and also stopping the supply of free medicines during PTI’s tenure.
Political stability is a must for economic development, Shehbaz told reporters and said false slogans revolving around calling others thieves only created insecurity and friction in the society.
The PTI founder chairman himself used to say that if there was an honest leader, there would be less corruption, he noted, saying that Transparency International had backed this claim by declaring him more corrupt.
Shehbaz said the PTI government was a product of witchcraft and manipulation, adding that baseless allegations like getting 45 percent for Chinese-funded projects were spread by a rival party chanting slogans of dacoits and thieves to destabilize Pakistan.
He also highlighted the role played by the then Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in destroying PKLI and delaying the Orange Line and said the same judge had declared PTI chief Sadiq and Amin [honest and true].
It is every candidate’s right to campaign without fear or restraint, but buying voters by distributing money is an insult to the people, he said, alluding to revelations that PPP supporters were caught red-handed distributing money to locals in the constituency where their chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is running in the National Assembly elections in Lahore.
