Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday promised to complete the Bus Rapid Transit project in five months time if his party is given chance by the people of Peshawar in the next polls.
"Peshawar is my home, the people of this city have always been a great host," the PML-N President said, while speaking at a workers convention in Peshawar. "If Almighty gives me an opportunity I will give Peshawar metro train project in 2018."
Shahbaz claimed that the Peshawar's metro bus project is being constructed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's provincial government in Rs71 billion, whereas the Lahore's bus project was completed in Rs30 billion.
"Where are the rest of Rs40 billion, Imran Khan," Punjab CM questioned. "If PML-N is given chance we will complete the rapid bus project in five months."
He also questioned Imran Khan's tall claims of developing the province. He made it overtly clear that Nawaz Sharif was his president in past and would remain so in the future.
This was Shahbaz's first visit to Peshawar after taking the presidency of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The PML-N leader claimed that there is not a single big hospital in the KP's capital city.
Shahbaz apprised attendants that PMLN had constructed motorway from Mardan to Peshawar. "Nawaz Sharif's vision was behind construction of motorway. Had there been no motorway, vehicles would have been stuck in long queues on GT road", asserted Shahbaz.
He said that the PTI chief doesn't appear before the courts on the defamation cases hearings. Shahbaz accompanied by PML-N provincial president, Engineer Amir Muqam, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi, PM Advisor on Aviation, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and other provincial leaders, MPAs warmly welcomed at the convention venue, held at Shami road here.
Keeping verbal onslaught up, junior Sharif stated that Imran Khan-who used to denigrate Lahore Metro Bus project-had himself introduced Metro Bus project in Peshawar after five years. Shahbaz inquired stalwarts whether a liar can serve Pakistan.
"If opportunity is given to PMLN in KPK in general polls 2018, we will bring KPK and Peshawar at par with Punjab and Lahore respectively", vowed Shahbaz. He reiterated that politics of PTI revolved around sit-ins, conspiracies, civil disobedience and obliterating economy.
Earlier, Pakistan Terheek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Siraj Mohammad Khan on Tuesday jumped ship after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif in Peshawar.
Upon his arrival in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P) capital, Shahbaz met party leaders at the residence of PML-N KP president Amir Muqam. He is scheduled to address a workers convention later today.
"It is also the only party which has steered Pakistan out of crisis," he added. Siraj Khan was elected to the National Assembly from the NA-6 Nowshera-II constituency in the 2013 general elections.
Welcoming the lawmaker to PML-N, Shahbaz said, "Siraj Khan will further strengthen the party."
Questioning PTI's performance in the province in the last five years, the Punjab chief minister said, "Instead of hindering our development projects and wasting people's time, the party has done nothing."
"PML-N is a strong political party with its roots among the public," he asserted. The PML-N president is in Peshawar to address a workers' convention.
Earlier, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif arrived at Peshawar Bacha Khan International Airport.