ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Marriyum Aurangzeb criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Sunday, attributing the mindset of the planners of the May 9 riots to their opposition to the country’s progress.
Speaking outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, she lambasted PTI over allegations of election rigging, pointing to the failure of the result management system (RTS) and the alleged theft of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s mandate.
Aurangzeb claimed that the PTI-led government had “looted” the country for four years and accused them of creating political uncertainty during the Chinese President’s visit in 2013.
She argued that PTI feared the resolution of people’s problems, including inflation, unemployment, and poverty, under the PML-N government. Aurangzeb emphasized that the PTI’s opposition was rooted in their mindset and not just their faces, predicting that they would continue to make noise.
Questioning PTI’s allegations of election rigging, Aurangzeb asked whether the polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were rigged. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan, winning the election with 201 votes against his PTI-backed opponent, Omar Ayub Khan, who secured 92 votes. Shehbaz Sharif assumed office for the second consecutive time with the support of PML-N’s allies, including PPPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, BAP, and others.
Meanwhile, in his victory speech, Shehbaz Sharif thanked allied parties for their support, while PTI-backed lawmakers chanted slogans. He expressed gratitude to his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, referring to him as the builder of Pakistan.
Reflecting on the May 9 riots, Sharif emphasized that despite past persecution, the PML-N and PPP never attacked institutions. He addressed the economic challenges facing the country, highlighting a Rs700 billion deficit and the reliance on loans for development, health, and education sectors.
Shehbaz Sharif also asserted that his party had eradicated terrorism but criticized the previous government for its resurgence, urging a collective effort to end terrorism in the country. He called on the PTI to abandon the politics of agitation and engage in discussions on election reforms. Sharif invited the opposition to collaborate on a charter of economy.
