PML-N demands mid-term elections

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday the solution to the disease the economy has been afflicted with is fresh elections and observed that mid-term elections are not unusual in democracies. "It's nothing new," he said.

"It is too soon to ask the question of a no-confidence campaign against the prime minister. [Nevertheless, such a] campaign is the constitutional and democratic right of the Opposition. He said that the PML-N would fully support Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his efforts to topple the government. "Imran Khan is the biggest lying selected prime minister in the 71-year history," he added. He said that the word 'selected' has become a taunt for Prime Minister Imran Khan that will continue till the end of the world, the Opposition leader said on Saturday. "Prime Minister Niazi made such a huge blunder that 'selected' has become a taunt for him and it will continue till the day the world ends," Shahbaz Sharif said, using the incumbent premier's last name instead of the popular 'Khan'.

Shahbaz Sharif expressed these views while interacting with journalists and media personnel. Other party leaders, including Rana Sanaullah, Khurram Dastagir, Mian Javed Latif, Marriyum Aurangzeb, former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, and ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, were also present. "The House had become a fish market during the budget session and the first four days were wasted and members of the government kept adding fuel to the fire," he said. “The society has started to lose patience,” the opposition leader noted, adding that they "have had disagreements in the past but this kind of atmosphere was never there". Shahbaz Sharif said none of the opposition's demands for the budget was accepted, even though they "pulled apart the budget with facts".

He mentioned, "There has never been such an atrocious 'enemy' budget." Noting that he would stand with the people and become their voice, the former Punjab chief minister said, "In our tenure, we provided free, standard medicines but, today, the poor are dying without treatment.” "I said sideline PM earlier. The prime minister and his team have failed, his team be sent back. "They are running the economic team and Imran Khan and his team have nothing to do with the economy," he stressed. Shahbaz Sharif noted that a suggestion for collective resignation had been rejected earlier when it was put forth for the first time but that the Rahbar Committee would suggest a name for the Senate chairperson. He rubbished rumours about differences among the opposition parties, saying, "There's only speculation about disagreement and we are not even at that stage at the moment.”

Turning his attention to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and calling him "our one leader", he commented on how the cruelty is being perpetrated against him and it "was the kind that was not even there in Pervez Musharraf's dictatorship.” "Nawaz Sharif is not being allowed to meet his family on Imran Niazi's orders and his mother and sister weren't allowed to meet him either," he added. The opposition leader said, "This is the worst example of fascism." Shahbaz Sharif stated that giving an opinion on any point is the beauty of democracy and that his party would accept a decision made unanimously. "Even if you try to pit us against the Pakistan People's Party [PPP], we won't fight them."

On India, he said, "Relationships with neighbour [countries] should be formed on the basis of respect and equality, not that you keep humbly requesting Modi and he doesn't even listen to you." On the activities of his successor, incumbent Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, he commented, "I won't say anything about the Punjab chief minister's performance; people should observe.” Shahbaz Sharif further explained that he asked in the House to tell him who had sought the NRO. "We have made errors in the past and we're bearing the consequences from those. "If we unite on not banning democracy, Inshallah [God be willing], the times would change. "We will lead a mature opposition. We had decided earlier that we would let the 'darling' be unmasked, and today, the country's condition has proved that he has been unmasked.”