Nawaz Sharif lauds India for G20 & Moon landing, says Pakistan still 'begging for dollars'

In a virtual address to PML-N party officials in Punjab, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed on Monday that his party, which led the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, had safeguarded Pakistan from an impending default by taking political risks. He expressed concerns over Pakistan's dire economic situation and lamented India's economic progress, which he claimed were due to his government's reforms, reported Dunya News.

Sharif recalled his time as prime minister, stating that when he assumed office in December 1990, India had emulated the economic reforms initiated by his government in Pakistan. He noted that India had achieved significant milestones such as reaching the moon and hosting G20 meetings, while Pakistan grappled with its worst economic crisis in history.

"Today India has reached the moon, the G20 meeting is being held in India, and Pakistan is begging countries around the world for a billion dollars," Sharif said, highlighting the stark contrast between the two nations' economic trajectories.

Sharif calls for accountability amid Pakistan's economic struggles

During his address, Nawaz Sharif stressed the importance of holding those responsible for Pakistan's current economic hardships accountable. He stated that the public should not forgive those he referred to as culprits, including his political rivals in the PTI.

Sharif, who plans to return to Pakistan from his self-imposed exile in London next month, expressed his concerns about irreversible losses and claimed that without the intervention of the PDM government, the cost of petrol might have skyrocketed to Rs1,000 per litre.

He also expressed empathy for the financial difficulties faced by the general population, citing rising food inflation, exorbitant utility bills, and the cost of essential medical care as major challenges.

The PML-N leader lamented the irony that during his tenure as prime minister, Pakistan became a nuclear power, yet he was subsequently deported, imprisoned, and sentenced to 27 years on terrorism charges.

Sharif alleged that former army chief General (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Hameed, in collaboration with former Supreme Court chief justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa, conspired to remove him from power. He also pointed out that he and other PML-N leaders, including Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz, endured imprisonment and hardships without committing any crime.

Despite the challenges faced by his party, Sharif asserted that they were not interested in pursuing political vendettas against their opponents and declared that they harbored no desire for revenge.