KHANEWAL: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has criticised PTI Chairman Imran Khan for his ‘double standards’ and asked him why he was now praising Pakistan Army after accusing it of rigging the 2013 general elections.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 92km Khanwal-Lodhran dual carriageway and a public meeting here on Monday, Mr Sharif said the army had offered great sacrifices for the country and the entire nation was behind it.

He said Imran had levelled serious corruption allegations against him but when he moved court to contest the allegation, the PTI chief never turned up.”

Mr Sharif, who is also PML-N president, said a handful of legislators had raised the slogan of Junoobi Punjab at the fag end of the government tenure but a poor public response had compelled them to join the PTI. “Those legislators never thought of south Punjab during past five years.”

He said Imran and Asif Zardari had destroyed KP and Sindh, respectively, by protesting against the federal government and not completing any worthwhile public welfare projects in their provinces.

Chiding Imran for not establishing any new school or hospital in KP, he said the PTI chief had brought people from across Pakistan “on payment” to speak lies in Lahore rally.

The chief minister also inaugurated different facilities including a CT Scan machine at the DHQ Hospital, Khanewal.

According to our Multan correspondent, the chief minister said Abdul Hakim town would get tehsil upgrade after elections and announced the provision of 20 Speedo buses – 10 each for Khanewal and Jahanian.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2018