In a recent address to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket aspirants, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attributed the country’s economic challenges to internal factors, distancing Bharat, the US, and Afghanistan from blame. Sharif, eyeing a record fourth term as prime minister, pointedly accused the military establishment of imposing a “selected government” through rigged 2018 polls, resulting in the nation’s suffering and economic decline.
Highlighting his history of being ousted three times from power in 1993, 1999, and 2017, Sharif expressed frustration with judges who, according to him, legitimized military dictators by garlanding them and endorsing their rule when constitutional breaches occurred. He questioned the judiciary’s inconsistent approach, noting their approval of parliament dissolution and prime minister ouster while validating military actions.
Sharif specifically lashed out at former ISI chief Gen Faiz Hamid, implicating him in the 2017 ousting. He referenced a Supreme Court case against Hamid and others who allegedly stated that if Nawaz came out of jail, their two-year hard work would be wasted. Sharif, who recently returned from a four-year exile in London, criticized the military establishment’s decision-making, accusing them of favoring their “selected man” Imran Khan.
In a televised address last week, Sharif further accused the military establishment of coercing senior judges between 2014 and 2017, influencing court verdicts against him. Despite facing previous corruption charges, Sharif was recently acquitted in the Al-Azizia Steel mill case and the Avenfield graft case. These developments add to the complex political landscape as Sharif continues his bid for political prominence in Pakistan.
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