Imran seeks neutrals’ help to return to power, alleges Maryam

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that the neutrals (establishment) taught former prime minister Imran Khan the ropes but once their support was withdrawn, he fell flat on his face – a reference to him being easily ousted from power.

Maryam was addressing an election rally in PP-158, a constituency previously held by PTI defector Aleem Khan, owner of private TV channel. Aleem has nominated Shoaib Siddiqui in his place to contest the election on the PML-N ticket.

Read more: Maryam set to address election rallies in Lahore

Maryam told the party workers that Imran was the first leader who was seeking support of the neutrals to bring him back to power. She said Imran had a habit of walking on borrowed clutches, and once they took away the support, he fell head first to the ground. She also cited PTI’s ally PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi comments, saying that he had recently in an interview said the “establishment even changed his nappies”.

She said that they admit that there was a stark rise in prices of fuel but instead of hiding, they were out in the public assuring the masses that the government realised the suffering of the people and was trying its best to fight its way out of the financial quagmire. “If the country had not been at the verge of bankruptcy, the PML-N government would have never jacked up the prices of fuel.”

At first, she denied using Imran catchphrase “Ghabrana Nahi Ha” (Don’t panic), but later said: “I will say do not worry as we are working day in and day out for you.”

On prolonged power outages, Maryam said when PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif came to power in 2013, there was 20-hour-long load-shedding, but towards the end of his tenure, the power crisis issue was addressed. “We have done it once, and will surely do it again.”