Nawaz assails PTI govt's economic policies.

Byline: Zulqernain Tahir

LAHORE -- Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has questioned the economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and said they had made the lives of people miserable.

'The enemies of the country could not see Pakistan progress under me and today no foreign investor is willing to come here and the economy is taking a nosedive,' Mr Sharif was quoted as saying by a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader who met him in the Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday.

Some close relatives and many PML-N leaders met Mr Sharif in the prison, including his mother ShaAmim Akhtar, daughter MarAyam Nawaz, former president Mamnoon Hussain, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, veteran leader Javed Hashmi, former minister Ahsan Iqbal, MNA Rana Sanaullah and MPA Azma Bokhari.

A good number of PML-N workers also gathered outside the jail to express solidarity with their leader. They chanted slogans in favour of the former prime minister and against the PTI government.

Mr Sharif told the leaders who met him that his government had put the country on the road to success but the progress was hampered by its [country's] enemies.

'If the country's economy is run for another 10 years in the way it's been currently handled, its debts will be doubled,' he said.

'Under the PML-N government the value of the rupee appreciated and foreigners invested here,' said Mr Sharif.

He said he was not afraid of cases and even incarceration. He expressed satisfaction that 'in the people's court the PML-N is still popular'.

Mr Sharif pointed out that retired Gen Pervez Musharraf, who violated the Constitution, had been allowed to 'hide abroad'. 'The one who violated the Constitution [Musharraf] is living abroad on the pretext of a backache,' he said.

Mr Abbasi and Mr Sadiq briefed Mr Sharif on the proceedings of the National Assembly and the PML-N's stance on different issues. The PML-N supremo told them to continue with the party's aggressive style of politics in the legislature.

Talking to journalists, former president Hussain expressed concern over Mr...