Nawaz says he never revealed state secrets despite being persecuted

HAROONABAD: Slamming the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan after his 10-year sentence in the cipher case, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he had neither compromised the national security nor revealed any state secret to save his rule.

The three-time ex-premier, in his address to an election rally in the Haroonabad town of Punjab Bahawalnagar district, came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and blamed him for hatching a “conspiracy” which compromised the national security.

He praised the Haroonabad people for gathering in large numbers to welcome him and said that his election rally broke attendance records of all previous rallies in the city. “Despite being persecuted, I had never revealed any state secret nor compromised the national security,” Nawaz said while pointing fingers at Khan, adding that he “attacked” the country’s integrity to save his rule. “I am still standing before the nation despite facing cruel oppression. I had been ousted from the premiership for not receiving salary from my son. I was removed from the premiership thrice which also resulted in losses to the country.”

The PMLN supremo took credit for controlling inflation, fuel rates, loadshedding, the US dollar fluctuations and relief to farmers and common people during his previous tenures.

“We had also gotten rid of the IMF. We were expanding the motorway network, working on the CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor]. On the other hand, the former PTI government kept begging before foreign countries,” Nawaz claimed.

He also mentioned the latest ranking of the global corruption index. “Transparency International declared the PTI founder’s era most corrupt. Corruption decreased during our tenure but the country’s corruption index had risen during the PTI government.” Nawaz blamed Khan for shaking the foundations of the country during his four-year rule. He vowed to stay focused on getting Pakistan back on its feet besides working for the country’s prosperity and development. He also announced the construction of a motorway from Lahore to Bahawalnagar if voted to power.

Addressing the rally, Maryam Nawaz praised the 10-year sentencing of Khan in the cipher case by a special court. “When Nawaz Sharif was sentenced in the scandalous Panama case, the PTI founder was enjoying sweets. Unlike him, Nawaz is not celebrating the sentencing of Imran Khan today.”

“The former premier had played with the national security by waving a fake paper and terming it a conspiracy. PTI isn’t a political party and they should be treated like terrorists,” she added. “Despite being ousted from power thrice, subjected to oppressiveness and attempts to end his political career, Nawaz has never gone against the country and is still here among the nation,” said the party’s senior vice president. She appealed to the nationals to elect the PMLN to power to resume the journey towards development and prosperity.