Former PM praises public for rejecting politics of lies and hatred in recent by-elections
Pakistan Muslim League President Nawaz Sharif has accused those who brought Imran Khan to power of being as guilty as Khan himself and being bigger criminals, calling for them to be held accountable.
In a speech to the newly elected members of the Assembly, Nawaz Sharif remarked that during Khan’s tenure, the country had faced nothing but destruction. “A culture of bad manners was fostered and the country came close to bankruptcy,” he said, adding that during the tenure of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, inflation jumped to 39 per cent, while under his leadership, inflation had been kept at just 3 per cent.
“If the path of development had continued, Pakistan would occupy an important place in the world today and would not have to worry about the IMF,” Nawaz said.
میں سمجھتا ہوں کہ الحمدللہ میں نے اس ملک کے لیے بہت کام کیے ہیں، لیکن شہباز شریف اور مریم نواز میرے سے بھی آگے نکل گئے ہیں۔ یہ حقیقت ماننی چاہیے۔ میں خوش ہوں کہ وہ میرے سے زیادہ ترقی کر رہے ہیں، خوشحال ہیں اور ملک کے لیے محنت کر رہے ہیں۔ ایک ماں باپ اپنی اولاد کے لیے یہی چاہتے… pic.twitter.com/1EKOkAjYE8
– PMLN (@pmln_org) November 26, 2025
Nawaz Sharif claimed that the PTI government was responsible for the state of the country between 2018 and 2022, citing its role in sowing hatred, lies and chaos. “How can a country develop in such an environment?” » he questioned. “Merit was trampled under the last government.”
He further said that Imran Khan was not the only one at fault, but those who brought him to power were “even more serious criminals” and should be held fully accountable.
He also addressed the boycott of the Punjab by-elections by the PTI, noting that despite the call for boycott, Umar Ayub’s wife contested the election. He praised the public for rejecting the politics of lies and hatred in the recent elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, praising the assembly members for defeating the politics of “abuses, lies and unrest”.
The former prime minister highlighted the improvements taking place under the current government, saying merit-based work is now underway, with development projects being implemented including distribution of laptops, construction of roads and operation of green buses. “The law and order situation has improved, ration cards are being issued without discrimination and more projects will be unveiled soon,” he added.
