PM Shehbaz Sharif says 'NSC rejected entire story of conspiracy twice'

ISLAMABAD: In his first address to the nation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the National Security Committee (NSC) had rejected the entire story of the alleged conspiracy of the US-sponsored regime change twice, ARY News reported on Friday.

PM Shehbaz Sharif delivered his first speech on state television today after assuming the Prime Minister’s Office.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said that it is an honour for him to be elected as the prime minister at a testing time. He said that it was inevitable to prevent the country from the serious consequences of the wrong measures adopted in the last four years.

He thanked Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and coalition partners for exhibiting confidence in him.

PM Sharif said that the then opposition parties had gotten rid of an ineligible and corrupt government at the request of the nation which was successfully done through a constitutional move.

He said that they accepted the challenge to save Pakistan from the serious outcomes of the disastrous moves of the previous government.

Without naming former prime minister Imran Khan, PM Sharif criticised, “Just for saving the rulership, an individual hatched a conspiracy of a so-called diplomatic cable.”

He said that the NSC had rejected the ‘story’ of the alleged conspiracy for a US-sponsored regime change in Pakistan twice, whereas, the Pakistani envoy in the United States (US) had also refuted the claims. He said that an individual is continuously telling lies to the nation and causing damage to the national interests just for his political gains.

IMF loan, economic challenges

Regarding the loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the premier said that the former office-bearers of the previous government are hiding the facts. PM Sharif said that the IMF loan agreement had been signed by the previous government on tough conditions which led to high inflation rate in the country.

The premier claimed that the global institutions had witnessed the highest corruption rate during the previous government. “If someone is thinking that his stubbornness and arrogance is more powerful than the constitutional institutions then it would be a grave mistake.”

He said that Pakistan’s debts have been increased up to $20,000 billion and the budget deficit is historic high, whereas, the business activities were paralysed in the country.

He also alleged that the previous government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had made no arrangements for maintaining the fuel reserves nor did it repair the power plants which led to worst loadshedding.

PM Sharif said that the present government took a tough decision to hike the prices of petroleum products yesterday but the previous government approved the fuel subsidy just for some political gains.

Relief package

PM Sharif said that the PML-N government is unveiling a new relief package worth Rs28 billion in which 14 million deserving families will be given financial assistance of Rs2,000.

He said, “This relief package is other than the financial assistant under BISP [Benazir Income Support Program].”

The premier said that the relief package will be included in the budget for the next fiscal year. He said that instructions were given to the state-owned utility stores for selling 10-kilogram flour sack at Rs400.

Political dialogues

PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the federal government decided to take practical steps without any political discrimination for achieving the development goals. He slammed the PTI government for neglecting the proposal of another charter of democracy for bringing political stability to the country.

“I am going to start consultations with all political parties. We are devising a policy which stops any government from derailing the national economy.”

PM Sharif vowed that he and his cabinet members will be accountable before the nation. He asked the political opponents not to consider the difference of opinion as enmity.