Terming the arrests of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz as unjustified, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Imran Khan's downfall is imminent.
"I am not a seer or fortune-teller but knows that Imran Khan's downfall is imminent," Nawaz said during his meeting with the PML-N activists at Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday.
Talking to the PML-N leaders, Nawaz said: "During the tenure of PML-N, the rupee remained stable and oil prices were not high. However, due to the inefficiency of Imran Khan, the country is now on the verge of destruction. The economy is being destroyed and no one is paying heed to worsening state of the country."
Among others, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Senator Pervez Rashid, former speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, Mian Javed Latif and others met Nawaz Sharif.
PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Vice President Maryam Nawaz, former PM's mother Begum Shamim Akhter, Capt Safder (retd) and Sharif family physician Dr Mohammad Adnan also met Nawaz.
Dr Adnan carried out medical examination of Nawaz Sharif and noticed some variation in his blood pressure and sugar levels.
It may be noted that Dr Adnan has already requested the Punjab government to allow him to conduct regular check-ups of Nawaz Sharif, given his deteriorating health condition. "Nawaz required optimisation of medicines, monitoring and constant care," he said.
During his talks with the PML-N activists, Nawaz further said that the PML-N government stopped asking the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for aid but the PTI government kept going back to the organisation for funds even after making claims that it would not do so. The PML-N had left full coffers, made motorways and worked on terrorism and inflation. Imran Khan had said he would commit suicide if he ever went to IMF, he did not commit suicide but the nation is being forced to, he added.
Nawaz also told the PML-N leaders that during our tenure, exports were increasing. He (Imran) has disheartened the nation in just 10 months, the PML-N supremo said. "The people of Pakistan are suffering due to the wrong policies of the present government."
Regarding relations with India, Nawaz said that during PML-N tenures, former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi visited Pakistan but Imran Khan was not even invited to the oath-taking ceremony of the Indian prime minister.
"Imran Khan is a player who will soon be thrown out of the stadium by spectators. His Bani Gala residence is in the midst of corruption. Imran should be ashamed of himself, "Nawaz said. "We came into power through the public's mandate. In order to hide his incompetence, he (Imran) is blaming the previous government. His incompetence has brought the country to the edge of destruction."
After the meeting, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said consultations will be held during the budget session regarding the All Parties Conference (APC) and protest movement against the government.
Khawaja Asif lashed out at the incumbent government and said, "Inflation surged to 40 percent through increasing the revenue target." He added that the idea of hens, eggs and jobs never succeed; likewise, the plan of forming a commission will also fail. Senator Pervez Rashid said those who gave relief to the people are arrested, and those who harmed them are in power.
Pervez Rashid said the Prime Minister may hold accountability of the loans which were taken in 10 years, but should also understand that terrorism was curbed, and issues of electricity and gas were resolved in those years.