Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif Thursday said that the balance was being tilted towards the ladla (blue-eyed).
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the former prime minister termed the Peshawar High Court ruling on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) symbol “bat” an attack on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Shehbaz accompanied by prominent party members Maryam Aurangzeb and Ayaz Sadiq reached Karachi where he was welcomed by a large number of party workers at the airport. He then left for a private hotel to meet party officials and hold a press conference.
In his press conference, the former prime minister criticised the PTI government for rigging the 2018 elections, damaging the economy and foreign relations, and spreading propaganda against China.
Sharif, who is fully prepared for the upcoming February 8 elections, reiterated claims that the 2018 election brought the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to power through rigging. He alleged that ballot boxes were changed on election night, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the current government.
The former Prime Minister criticised the economic and foreign policy impact of the government led by Imran Khan. Sharif asserted that PTI’s administration damaged the country's economy and foreign relations and claimed credit for saving Pakistan from bankruptcy during his tenure.
He claimed that his coalition government had saved Pakistan from bankruptcy and had worked hard day and night to improve the economy. He said that he had built the green line in Karachi and that CPEC had been a successful project but it was destroyed by the previous government.
Turning his attention to Karachi, Sharif highlighted the city's deteriorating conditions and accused the previous government of neglecting its development. He stressed the importance of Karachi as the gateway to Pakistan and announced plans to address the city's issues if the PML-N comes to power. Sharif pledged to bring back money allegedly looted from the country and indicated a focus on resolving Karachi's water crisis.
In a bid to garner support for the upcoming elections, Shehbaz promised initiatives similar to those undertaken in Lahore, including standard education in schools, the construction of the Karachi to Hyderabad Motorway, and the establishment of a circular railway network in Karachi. Additionally, he pledged to distribute laptops to youth, provide merit-based assistance to poor students, and offer special training programs to empower the youth of Karachi.