Former Prime Minister praises public for rejecting politics of lies and hate during recent by-elections
Pakistan Muslim League President Nawaz Sharif accused those who brought Imran Khan to power of being as guilty as Khan himself and of being major criminals, and called for them to be held accountable.
In a speech to the newly elected members of the assembly, Nawaz Sharif remarked that during Khan’s rule, the country faced only destruction. “A culture of bad manners was promoted and the country was on the verge of bankruptcy,” he said, adding that during the tenure of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, inflation rose to 39%, while under his leadership, inflation had remained at just 3%.
“If the path of development had continued, Pakistan would have 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۔ 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 in the last government.”
He further claimed that Imran Khan was not the only wrongdoer but those who brought him to power were “even bigger criminals” and should be fully held accountable.
He also referred to the PTI’s boycott of the by-elections in Punjab, pointing out that despite the call for boycott, Umar Ayub’s wife opposed the elections. He praised the public for rejecting the politics of lies and hate during the recent elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and congratulated the assembly members for defeating the politics of “abuse, falsehood and agitation”.
The former prime minister highlighted the improvements taking place under the current government and said merit-based work is now being done, with the implementation of development projects including the distribution of laptops, construction of roads and operation of green buses. “The law and order situation has improved, ration cards are being distributed without discrimination and more projects will be revealed soon,” he added.
