‘Nawaz didn’t oust you as you shot yourself in the foot’, Maryam tells Imran

• You are responsible for destroying your party, says Maryam.
• Terms Nawaz Sharif as a ladla and favourite of the people.
• Laments his ouster as prime minister via rigging, foul play.

As political parties continue their election campaigns ahead of the February 8 polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz fired a broadside at political opponents, saying they are themselves responsible for self-sabotage as her father Nawaz Sharif didn’t oust anyone via conspiracy.

Addressing a political gathering in Punjab’s Nanaka Sahib, Maryam addressed various allegations hurled against her party and its supremo accusing them of conspiring against the then Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

“Nawaz didn’t oust you as you shot yourself in the foot […] You yourself are responsible for destroying your party,” Maryam said.

Both PTI along PML-N’s former ally Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have been complaining of the lack of a level playing field coupled with preferential treatment being given to the Nawaz-led party.

The verbal showdown between the latter two has increased in recent days as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is currently leading the party’s election campaign with fiery speeches, often taking a jibe at the PML-N.

Speaking today at the rally, Maryam also addressed the allegations against party supremo Nawaz of being a ladla (blue-eyed boy) and said, “It is said that Nawaz is a ladla, yes, but he is a ladla of the masses”.

The remarks, without naming anyone in particular, seemingly refer to the statements made by PPP’s Bilawal, who on various occasions, has accused Nawaz and his party of “relying on something other than the people of Pakistan to become prime minister for the fourth time”.

Commenting on her party’s priorities if they are voted into power, Maryam said that the PML-N is not in contest with any political party, but instead, its fight is against soaring inflation and exuberant electricity bills.

Recalling her father’s ouster from office in 2017, she stressed that the three-time former prime minister was ousted via a conspiracy, rigging and foul play.

“Give Nawaz a chance to serve [you once again],” she added while lamenting on the repeated ouster of the party supremo from the office.