Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday congratulated newly elected lawmakers and said voters in the recent by-elections had endorsed performance over “noise, abuse and division.”
Sharif Congratulates Lawmaker
Addressing newly elected members of the assembly, Sharif extended congratulations to all elected legislators, he also congratulated Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif. He said the by-election results reflected public confidence in stability-focused politics rather than what he described as a culture of confrontation.
“Chaos Was Defeated,” Says Former PM
Sharif said the nation had rejected “lies, abusive politics and chaos,” adding that the outcome showed public fatigue with political turmoil. He described the results as a setback for forces he labeled as “discord and strife.”
Reference to 2017 Economic Growth
The former prime minister recalled that Pakistan’s economy was expanding in 2017, claiming that the country was on a rapid development path before his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), left office. He credited government measures during his tenure for reducing inflation.
However, he said that once the PML-N exited power, “the country suffered destruction,” pointing to rising political polarization and economic instability.
Criticism of IMF Return
Sharif asserted that his government had previously freed Pakistan from International Monetary Fund (IMF) dependence, but the succeeding administration “brought the IMF back.” He argued that the economic developments between 2018 and 2022 remain the responsibility of his political opponents.
Voters Rewarded Performance, Sharif Claims
Transitioning to the national mood reflected in the polls, Sharif said voters had “chosen performance” in the by-elections, signaling what he described as a public preference for governance over confrontation.
