LAHORE: Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) on Sunday lashed out at the 'anti-government' rallies being taken out by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Awami Muslim League (AML) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in the federal capital city today, DawnNews reported.

Addressing journalists during a seminar on the freedom of press in the country, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif after stating the achievements of the current government, termed the anti-rallies being staged as against the country's development and requested PTI chief, Imran Khan, to have mercy on the nation.

Terming the rally as 'ball tampering', since according to him, Imran Khan was staging a rally against a democratic government before the end of its tenure, he added that if Khan was willing to vacate his palatial residence then he too would be willing to leave his large residence.

The CM Punjab also extended an invitation to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri asking him to leave Canada and settle down in Pakistan.

He said that PAT chief was himself enjoying a cool breeze while the people were made to bear the sweltering heat out on the roads of Pakistan.

On the other hand Federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed, criticising the PTI in cricketing terms, claimed that Imran Khan wanted to enter the finals without playing the quarterfinals and added that the party wished to have its own umpire in the finals.