Imran ‘begged’ establishment, Zardari to save his govt: Maryam

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz has claimed that ousted premier Imran Khan had approached the establishment and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to help him to block the opposition's bid to topple his government through the no-trust motion earlier this month.

“Imran begged established establishment and Zardari till last minute to save his government…but after failing to do so he staged a drama about the foreign conspiracy,” the PML-N leader said while addressing a rally in Lahore’s NA-128 constituency Tuesday night.

Maryam said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been demanding early elections because they did not want the PML-N to come into power amid fears that their “corruption scandals and incompetency will be exposed”.

“We won most of the by-elections held during the tenure of the PTI government and the PML-N is not scared of elections as we know people are standing by us..,” she remarked.

“The biggest conspirator, jackal would say that Nawaz Sharif’s politics has been ended and now he is crying that Nawaz Sharif toppled his government from sitting in London,” she said while responding to Imran’s allegations that the PML-N supremo was part of the alleged foreign plot to topple his government.

“I told you [Imran Khan] that Nawaz Sharif is a horse that runs in the long race and would hit you back and wouldn’t let you escape.”

Maryam said PTI Chairman Imran is afraid of Nawaz’s return to Pakistan. “You are incapable to compete with Nawaz Sharif and now he is scared of what will happen to him when Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan.”

Maryam, who is a daughter of Nawaz and niece of the incumbent premier, said there is no comparison between the style of governance of Imran Khan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Shehbaz-led government reduced the prices of basic commodities including flour and sugar in a few days while the former prime minister could not do it in years, she claimed.

Also read: Maryam claims Imran got 'millions' from Arif Naqvi

Maryam said after being ousted from power, Imran had got nothing to talk about his performance as he did nothing during his nearly four years in power.

'Imran Niazi is shedding crocodile tears'

Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz warned PTI Chairman Imran Khan against maligning state institutions.

“Come to your senses and don’t think about staging a sit-in as ‘angry’ people will destroy your politics...Imran Niazi is shedding crocodile tears and spreading fake propaganda about foreign conspiracy,” he added.

Imran destroyed the country’s economy and hatched a conspiracy against the country by making false promises of giving 10 million jobs and 5 million houses, said the PML-N leader.

“We are returning to old Pakistan from new Pakistan after Imran’s ouster,” said Hamza adding that the previous PTI-led government rendered thousands of people unemployed and demolished houses of the poor under the guise of the anti-encroachment drive.

“He got his own Bani Gala residence regularised by paying a nominal amount..”

His government searched every file but could not prove a single penny of corruption against the Sharif family, said Hamza.

Speaking about the Toshakhana case, Hamza claimed that the ousted PM sold a watch received as a gift by a Muslim brother country.

“We will hold him accountable for subjecting the people to persecution,” he added.

“Even if the entire village falls, Hamza Shehbaz will take the oath of the chief minister,” said the chief minister-elect adding that President Arif Alvi at the behest of Imran Khan deliberately delaying his oath-taking ceremony.

‘Maryam not going anywhere’

Maryam Nawaz is not going anywhere, even if she is allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia, she will return as soon as she could to lead PML-N’s country-wide rallies planned to start from May 6, federal minister Javed Latif said.

He added that three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan next month to face the courts and if not arrested upon arrival, he will most likely lead a second round of movement planned ahead of these rallies.

Maryam has kicked off her mass mobilisation drive from Tuesday by holding party workers meeting in Lahore’s NA-128 constituency of MNA Sheikh Rohail Ashgar.

She was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister-elect Hamza Shehbaz. Maryam will hold her next party workers meeting in MPA Saiful Maluk’s constituency.

Maryam is also seeking permission from the court to fly abroad, which led to speculations regarding her return.

Latif said that Maryam, if not allowed to travel, will continue holding as many constituency-wise public meetings as possible before Eid.