Nawaz Sharif, former PM of Pakistan has once again praised India, stating that while neighbouring countries have reached the moon, Pakistan has still not risen from the earth. The PML-N leader emphasized the severe economic crisis in Pakistan, asserting that the country is to blame for its own decline.
“Our neighbours have reached the moon but we haven’t even risen from the ground so far. It can’t keep going on like this. We have been responsible for our own downfall, otherwise this nation would have reached a different place,” Nawaz Sharif said.
In his Wednesday address, Nawaz Sharif, campaigning for his fourth term as Prime Minister, reflected on his achievements. The former prime minister also drew attention to inflation, citing the increase in the price of roti from PKR 2 to PKR 30.
Sharif attributed his legal troubles to ‘fake cases’ and called for accountability from conspirators behind his 2017 ouster. Nawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister, plans to contest elections from the Mansehra region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which will mark his return to Pakistani politics after a four-year self-imposed exile.
In a call for national development, Sharif urged Pakistan to prioritise women’s participation. “Every nation that has developed has prioritised women in development,” he said, advocating for equal opportunities for women.
He stated, “In 2013, we were facing severe load shedding of electricity, we came and ended it, ended terrorism from all over the country, restored the peace of Karachi, highways were built, CPEC came, and a new era of development and prosperity began”.
Nawaz Sharif reportedly pointed out that he has been removed from his position of power on three separate occasions: in 1993, 1999, and 2017. Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif stated that neither India nor the US are to blame for the financial difficulties of his country.
Instead, he implied that the country’s own actions, particularly those of its powerful military establishment, are at the root of its problems, using the metaphor “we shot ourselves in our own foot,” according to the Mint.
He pointedly laid blame on internal factors, particularly the powerful military’s manipulation of the 2018 elections, leading to economic suffering and people’s hardship. The 73-year-old leader also criticised judges for endorsing military dictators while approving the removal of a prime minister and the dissolution of the parliament.
He claimed ‘fake cases’ were registered against him, Maryam and other PML-N leaders. Conviction in two cases was struck down by the Islamabad High Court only in three hearings. He said that he doesn’t have adequate right to pardon those who people dragged him into this mud when asked about exposing the conspirators.
What went wrong for Pak ever since Nawaz Sharif left?
The conditions started to look dire even during his last regime as the PM of the country. But, after he left the office; things escalated for the neighbours. Lack of a commanding leadership in the PMO distorted the country in bits.
The heavy interest rate loans from China and International Monetary Fund (IMF) started to bleed the funds out of the treasury. Eventually, inflation kicked in and day-to-day used commodities were the most affected. A litre of Milk costed Rs 200 (INR) which was less than a litre of petrol.
Nawaz Sharif did not let the terrorism enter Karachi and Islamabad even though the problem persisted. After his self-exiled departure terrorism creeped in and slowly gave birth to militarism, dictatorship and other non-democratic features. Eventually, a less calibre of leader like Imran Khan saw his throne overturned to militarism and dictatorship.
While India strong-footed the world with ideology of peace and controlled diplomacy; Pakistan failed to have either. Amidst the animosity for India they forgot to invest and grow themselves which gradually led to no Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and only huge loans. While India made and left a mark on the world Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan suffered a heavy misfortune.
