The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been taking credit for projects the PML-N government had already completed in its previous tenure by "re-inauguration and reinstallation of foundation stones".

Speaking at a news conference here, senior PML-N leaders, Sardar Awais Leghari and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for its alleged failure and incompetence in dealing with inflation.

Leghari referred to the prime minister's visit to Layyah on Friday and alleged that during his visit, the premier re-inaugurated Tayyip Erdogan Hospital and dualization of Dera Ghazi Khan-Muzaffargarh Highway, which had already been inaugurated during the PML-N government. "After sugar and wheat theft, this PTI government has initiated yet another theft, namely, stealing the inauguration stones of the previous leadership of the PML-N," he said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan was also allegedly planning to re-inaugurate the road leading from hilly areas of southern Punjab to Balochistan, "which was completed at a cost of Rs 20 billion with support from Japan and hectic efforts of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif". "We strongly condemn these tactics and believe that they are not only a matter of dishonesty with the people, but also an attempt to hide their incompetence to inaugurate new projects in southern Punjab," he added.

Leghari also criticized the prime minister for not announcing his support for the creation of a southern Punjab province, adding that his party, the PML-N, was supporting the creation of southern Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces.

However, he said that if the government opted for only one southern Punjab province, then a referendum should be conducted in Bahawalpur to know about the choice of the people of that area. The PML-N leader also alleged that the government was "protecting sugar and wheat mafias for making billions of rupees through creating an artificial price hike in the country".