Defamation notice to Imran: Shahbaz urges CJP to form bench

KASUR: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in his first address as PML-N president, has predicted victory in the coming general polls.

Addressing a rally in Pattoki on Tuesday, he said: “Nawaz Sharif's party presidency was snatched, but our love for him remains." He criticised the PTI chief and said he lied to people and the Orange Line Metro train project was delayed due to him. "Imran Khan has been lying to people for the last four and a half years. He [Imran] had claimed that he would create multiple dams in KP, but he did not make any. Imran has turned Peshawar into ruins. He is also now building a metro project which he had criticised repeatedly," Shahbaz said, adding that he had sent a defamation notice of billions of rupees to Imran, but the PTI chairman never came to court. He said he would now request the chief justice of Pakistan to form a larger bench to hear the case.

Reiterating his government's performance in Punjab, he said the provincial government improved the medical infrastructure."We have installed CT scan machines to facilitate the poor." He said the government would continue to improve educational institutions and other infrastructure. "The government fulfilled its promise and ended load-shedding in the country,” he said.

Shifting his focus to Karachi, he said if the provincial metropolis voted for the PML-N, he would ensure Karachi becomes the next Lahore. “Karachi used to be known as the city of lights, now it has garbage on every street,” said the new PML-N president. He also lamented the condition of public transport in Karachi.

Earlier, the CM laid the foundation stone of an overhead bridge at Hala Road Bypass in Pattoki. This project will be completed in July this year at a cost of Rs 35 crore. He inaugurated the Government College Allahabad which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore. He also inaugurated the THQ Hospital Kot Radha Kishan. Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Iqbal, MNAs, MPAs and a large number of people were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, a case was registered by the Pattoki Police against those involved in misbehaving with a woman at the CM rally. The police identified the accused – Aslam, Mohsin and others ‑ through video footage. Mohsin has been arrested.