Expanding on his criticism of the military, Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N and a three-time ousted Pakistan Prime Minister, intensified his accusations on Tuesday, holding the army responsible for the country's myriad challenges.
Sharif likened the situation to a self-inflicted wound, stating, "Today, where Pakistan finds itself economically is not the result of actions by India, the US, or even Afghanistan. In reality, we have shot ourselves in our own foot. The imposition of a selected regime by the army through the rigging of the 2018 polls has led to the suffering of the people and the downfall of the economy," as reported in various accounts of the meeting with aspiring party candidates for the upcoming elections.
In a televised address last week, Sharif had previously accused the military establishment of 2014-17 of pressuring senior judges to remove him from power. In his recent remarks, he also directed criticism towards the higher judiciary, accusing them of endorsing military dictators by legitimizing their rule when constitutional norms were violated. Sharif underscored the double standard, noting that while judges readily confirm the ouster of a Prime Minister, they praise military dictators.
Returning to Pakistan in October after a prolonged self-imposed exile, Sharif did not spare former ISI chief Gen Faiz Hamid from censure. He alleged that the military's decision to oust him in 2017 was a calculated move to install their preferred candidate, referencing his arch-rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan as the beneficiary of their maneuvers.
(With Agency Inputs)
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