The ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), celebrated Youm-e-Takbeer to commemorate the nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan on May 28, 1998 with a renewed pledge to struggle for uplift of the country. The PML-N organised held functions in the federal and all four provincial capitals including Muzaffarabad and Gilgit and various speakers marked the day with speeches commemorating May 28 as event of "great significance for the country".
In Lahore, Hamza Shehbaz said, "May 28 is a very important day in the political and defence history of Pakistan as on this day it wrote a new history by conducting nuclear tests despite outside pressure. The whole Pakistani nation is proud of this historic achievement under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif."
Hamza in parts of his speech also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party head Imran Khan for his allegations against the Sharif family. He said, "When Nawaz Sharif was a student of Government College, the Ittefaq Foundry was still working. Those who are levelling allegations have been exposed and such elements will be rejected by people. Imran [Khan] caused a loss to the country by holding a sit-in Islamabad and the Supreme Court declared that the 2013 elections were never rigged to favour any particular party."
He then claimed Pakistan in 2018 would be "a prosperous and strong Pakistan and with peace restored in Karachi." His criticism was also directed towards PTI leader Jehangir Tareen for writing-off a loan of Rs 640 million, adding that another PTI leader, Aleem Khan, "is known for being the Qabza group", while Imran Khan has also owned an offshore company since the 1980s". Other speakers were Malik Mohammad Pervaiz, Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, Shaista Parvez who commemorating the nuclear tests pledged all-out efforts for upholding national sovereignty and solidarity.