Nawaz Sharif Appeals for Votes to Implement 'Economic Overhaul

 

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, addressing a gathering in Mansehra on Monday, urged the people to vote for his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, emphasizing his commitment to initiating an economic overhaul for the country's development.

Speaking at an election rally in Thakra Stadium, where he is contesting for a National Assembly seat, Sharif positioned himself as the "champion of development and prosperity." He expressed both pleasure and sorrow, citing the challenges faced by the nation on economic and other fronts.

Sharif lamented his removal from the Prime Minister's Office by five judges of the apex court, claiming that had he remained in power, he could have stabilized the country's economy. He highlighted the depreciation of the US dollar, which, during his tenure, stood at Rs104 but has since surged out of control.

The former prime minister listed mega-development projects initiated by his government, including the Hazara motorway, which he touted as a significant relief for commuters. Sharif clarified that his goal was not to reclaim the prime ministership but to secure votes for the prosperity and development of the country and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Taking a swipe at the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without naming Imran Khan, Sharif accused a 'liar fraudulently' occupying the Prime Minister's Office of shattering the economy. He claimed that had he remained in power, the Lahore-Karachi motorway, currently stalled in Sukkur, would have been completed.

Sharif sought support for overhauling the economy, promising to link the Hazara Motorway to Gilgit-Baltistan via the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road if elected. He pledged to address unemployment and provide subsidized electricity, natural gas, and vegetables to the underprivileged.

The former prime minister recalled rejecting a coalition government offer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2013 elections and accused PTI of ruining the economy during its ten-year tenure. Maryam Nawaz, also addressing the gathering, expressed gratitude for the crowd despite the cold weather and criticized PTI's lack of mega development projects in the region. PML-N leaders Sardar Mohammad Yusuf, Amir Muqam, and Mohammad Safdar were also present at the event.