Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Lashing out at former prime minister Imran Khan for “destroying” the country’s economy, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said that it is better to quit the government before bringing more burden on the poor, hinting that the stay of the unity government in power might not be too long.
Her statement came after the ex-premier was upping the ante against the present government and demanding early elections. “We only want one thing and that is elections and do not want the imported government. We want independence via free and transparent elections. The ocean of people will not leave Islamabad until we get a date for the elections,” Imran said while addressing party workers at K-P House in Islamabad earlier in the day, hinting at turning the Islamabad long march into a prolonged sit-in.
Maryam asked the crowd at a public gathering in Sargodha whether her party should leave the government as it did not want to bring more burden on the people and the people replied in affirmative.
The PML-N leader then said she also thinks the same “one should quit the government before bringing more burden on to the poor”.
“If Nawaz leaves government, will you give him a two-third majority,” she asked the masses. Maryam also said that people ask if you wanted to leave the government why did you come into power for such a short time. “We came because he [Imran Khan] was planning to steal the next elections. We failed Imran’s 12-year plan.”
She said that Nawaz Sharif had ended the chronic issue of load-shedding in the country in
just three years but Pakistan was later handed over to an incapable person.
“Pakistan was destroyed in these four years. That same person who destroyed Pakistan now says what Shehbaz Sharif did in four weeks. Can destruction caused to the economy be fixed in four weeks,” she questioned.
She said that Imran has delivered 40 speeches after being removed from premiership but he hasn’t said a single word about his performance.
“First, he staged a drama of 35 punctures and now he is doing the same with the letter. He has not provided evidence of anything yet,” she said and added that now Imran is saying his life is in danger but he hasn’t provided proof of his claim yet.
“Today, the dollar reached Rs200 and Imran Khan is responsible for it. Today, the economy is on the ventilator and Imran Khan is responsible for it as well.”
Talking about the government’s recent difficult decisions, Maryam said that Imran doesn’t know that making difficult decisions for the nation is not easy.
“When you were asked about the prices of tomatoes and potatoes you said you did not come to fix the rates. But Shehbaz Sharif will fix these issues.”
Maryam said that Nawaz Sharif could’ve just increased the prices of commodities and stayed in power but he’s not Imran Khan. “Nawaz Sharif will leave power before increasing the burden on the people,” she added.
Talking about the PTI chief’s recent statement about her, Maryam said that Imran doesn’t know how to talk about a woman. “He said the US ambassador would’ve walked over me… you have not abused Maryam but all the women of Punjab,” she said and added that when some foreign dignitary comes, Maryam is not representing herself but Pakistan.
She also said that whoever fed this “snake” Imran Khan, he has bitten them. “Imran says if the judiciary doesn’t vote in his favour it has sold its conscious… when the establishment doesn’t support him he says they’re animals… if media doesn’t support him, he labels them as foreign agents.”
She said that the Supreme Court made a historic decision but from that day onward, he has been cursing the court but when it took a suo moto notice now he is praising it.
“I say to the Supreme Court that if it is taking a suo moto against Shehbaz then it should also take a suo moto against Shahzad Akbar and others. Suo moto should also be taken on the delay in foreign funding case,” she added.
Maryam said that the PTI chairman has abused the armed forces of Pakistan and runs campaigns against them on social media. “Dr Arif Alvi’s son openly abuses the army despite his father being the president.”
The PML-N stalwart further said that Imran abuses the same media which gave coverage to his empty public gatherings. “He declares all the media houses traitors except one.”
On the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz said that Imran Khan only wanted to create chaos in the country. “He is not only talking bad about our armed institutions but against some friendly countries as well.”
Hamza said that Imran promised 5 million houses but could not build a single one.