Improving relations with neighbour key for Kashmir resolution, says Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, on Saturday (Oct 21), lamented the current economic situation of the country after arriving home ending hisfour years of self-imposed exile in the UK.

He stated that if the government had put into effect his 1990 economic model, “not a single person would have been unemployed".

"We will have to stand, we will have to raise collective national dignity and have to do poverty alleviation. We will have to make a honourable and functional foreign policy. We will have to have better relations with our neighbours and the world. We can not grow when fighting with our neighbours and can not be friends with the world either, we have to establish good relations with everyone, for the solution of Kashmir as well we will have to move forward in an honourable and dignified manner," Sharif said.

He said that had Pakistan been run following his 1990 economic model, "not a single person would have been unemployed, there would be nothing like poverty [...] but today, the condition is so bad that one has to think if they can feed their children or pay electricity bills".

The former Pakistani PM made the remarks while addressing a massive rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan rally in Lahore.

He then claimed that such crucial economic conditions did not emerge during Shehbaz Sharif's tenure but started long back.

"This didn't start in Shehbaz's tenure. It started way before that. The dollar was out of control, bills were going up, and rates of daily utilities and petrol were also surging."

"During our tenure, sugar was 50 rupees per kilogram, today it is at 250."

We made Pak an atomic power: Nawaz Sharif

While addressing the crowd, he also showed copies of two electricity bills which he said were from his tenure and after he was ousted.

"Tell me, who are they who separated Nawaz Sharif from his nation? We are those who built Pakistan. We made Pakistan an atomic power. We brought an end to load-shedding," he said.

"I am meeting you today after several years, but my relationship of love with you is the same. There is no difference in this relationship," Nawas said to his supporters.

"The love I am seeing in your eyes, I am proud of it."

He said he never backstabbed his supporters nor did he ever shy away from any kind of sacrifice. He recalled how fake cases were articulated against him and his party leaders. "But no one abandoned the PML-N flag."

(With inputs from agencies)

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