PTI chief lied to the people, says Shehbaz Sharif

PATTOKI: The newly elected interim Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan Tuesday and said that the latter had lied to the people and the Orange Line Metro train project was also delayed due to him.

Addressing a gathering of party workers in Pattoki, Shehbaz said, “Imran Khan has lied to the people for the last four and a half years.” He added that he had sent a defamation notice of billions to Imran, but the PTI chairman never once came to court.

Shehbaz, reiterating his government’s performance in Punjab, said the provincial government had improved the medical infrastructure of Punjab.

He also said that the government will continue to improve upon educational institutions and improve the infrastructure of the country.

Shifting his focus to Karachi, the newly selected PML-N president said that if the metropolis votes for PML-N, the party will ensure “Karachi becomes the next Lahore”.

“Karachi used to be known as the city of lights, now it has garbage on every street,” said the new PML-N president.

Other prominent party leaders are also expected to speak at the rally.

On Sunday, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif decided to pass the baton of the party presidency to his brother Shehbaz, who was apprised of the decision during his visit to the residence of Nawaz Sharif in Jati Umra.

Even though the decision has already been made, the PML-N will hold intra-party elections to formally elect the younger Sharif as the president in line with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) directives.

The slot of the president fell vacant after the Supreme Court’s disqualified Nawaz from the holding the presidency in its verdict pertaining to the Elections Act Bill that had enabled the former premier to come back at the helm despite being disqualified in the Panama Papers case.