ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he never believed in taking political revenge against opponents, referring to his political rival Imran Khan, who was ousted from power by his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and is currently serving a jail term in Adiala Jail.
Addressing the party’s senators in Murree on Saturday, the PML-N President dismissed concerns regarding the facilities the former Prime Minister is enjoying in jail, saying that he doesn’t even think about removing Imran Khan’s AC in his jail cell.
He referred to Khan as an estranged figure who, over the past 25 years, had posed a threat to the democratic system.
Sharif urged Khan not to lay blame on the PML-N for damaging democracy, saying that it was Khan’s own brand of politics that had caused the current state of affairs.
Sharif criticized Khan for his confrontational approach, recalling disrespectful remarks Khan had made towards him during his time as Prime Minister.
Nawaz Sharif said that Imran Khan was a major obstacle in the talks as his lack of seriousness in the negotiation process posed a major obstacle to fruitful discussions.
Sharif questioned the practicality of negotiations when one party involved is not fully committed to the process. “How can effective negotiations occur when one party is not demonstrating seriousness?” Nawaz responded to the concerns raised by party lawmakers.
Contrary to his strained relationship with Khan, Sharif spoke positively about the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and his party’s collaboration with them, including the signing of the Charter of Democracy with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Sharif commended the federal and Punjab governments, led by Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, for their efforts in curbing inflation and emphasized the need for reducing energy tariffs.
He highlighted the declining inflation rates and the positive performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. He specifically mentioned Maryam Nawaz’s role in reducing flour prices and the overall decrease in food prices.
Sharif praised Shehbaz Sharif’s dedication to providing relief to the masses, noting his efforts in ending power outages and lowering electricity tariffs during his tenure as Prime Minister.
He also commended Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his bravery during his time in jail and his unwavering support during challenging times.
