PM using religion to cover up ‘massive economic breakdown’: Shehbaz

PML-N leader says such a self-serving approach will wreak greater damage upon the polity

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of using religion “as a cover up for the massive governance and economic breakdown”.

He was referring to the premier’s opinion piece titled “Spirit of Riyasat-i-Madina: transforming Pakistan”, published in The Express Tribune on Monday.

“Really concerned with the way Prime Minister [Imran] is using religion as a cover-up for the massive governance & economic breakdown the country has suffered in decades due to his policies,” the PML-N leader wrote on his official Twitter handle.

“Such a self-serving approach will wreak greater damage upon the polity than is being understood,” he added.

Really concerned with the way Prime Minister is using religion as a cover-up for the massive governance & economic breakdown the country has suffered in decades due to his policies. Such a self-serving approach will wreak greater damage upon the polity than is being understood.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 17, 2022

In a statement, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the premier was trying to take unfair advantage of sacred Islamic teachings. “He [PM Imran] is a religious exploiter,” she alleged.

Aurangzeb said the article reflected that PM Imran was in a state of “extreme denial, stubbornness, arrogance and shamelessness”.

She said during his three years in power, PM Imran’s every step was against the principles of state of Madina.

The PML-N spokesperson said after making the lives of masses miserable due to inflation, writing an article on justice and principles is a “shameful and hypocritical” act.

بہتان ، الزام بغض ، نفرت عدم برداشت اور جھوٹ کا مجسمہ کس بے شرمی اور ڈھٹائی سے مدینہ کی ریاست پہ مضمون لکھ رہا ہے

مہنگائی سے عوام کا گلا کاٹ کر انصاف اور اصولوں کا مضمون لکھنا بے شرمی اور منافقت ہے

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) January 17, 2022

PM Imran shared the article on his official Twitter handle with caption: “Explaining guiding principles of Riyasat-i-Madina as laid down by our Prophet PBUH creating the foundation of the greatest civilisation of all times. In Pakistan, to realise our potential today we have to struggle to embody these principles as a nation & state.”

Explaining guiding principles of Riyasat-i-Madina as laid down by our Prophet PBUH creating the foundation of the greatest civilisation of all times. In Pak, to realize our potential today we have to struggle to embody these principles as a nation & state.https://t.co/U06hriykou

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 17, 2022

Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib said PM Imran’s article on the establishment of state of Madina is a guiding principle for every Muslim to follow.

“These rules were setup for all times, for the betterment of an individual, a society and a nation.”

PM Imran Khan's article on the establishment of State of Medina, the fundamentals for every Muslim to follow. These rules were setup for all times, for the betterment of an individual, a society and a nation.https://t.co/gVNzmvFqTC

— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) January 17, 2022