Maryam Nawaz says 'incompetent, puppet PM sneaked into popularity through backdoor'

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said Tuesday a prime minister who sneaked into popularity through the backdoor does not hold any respect around the world because he is a puppet being controlled by some marionettist.

Speaking at an event commemorating the 21st anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests — May 28, 1998, dubbed Youm-e-Takbeer — and addressing party supporters, the former first daughter said the person who made the country a nuclear power was locked up in the Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore Central Prison).

Maryam reminisced that former US president Bill Clinton had telephoned ex-premier Nawaz Sharif requesting Pakistan to not conduct the nuclear tests.

The Youm-e-Takbeer in 1998 was a historic day when Pakistan conducted five successful nuclear tests in Balochistan's district of Chaghi (alternatively spelled as Chagai) as a response, in self-defence, to the nuclear tests and accompanying hostile posturing by the neighbouring India.

In retaliation to the nuclear tests, multiple countries, including the United States, around the world, had imposed economic sanctions on Pakistan. Despite that, Sharif did not "beg anyone", Maryam added.

She also paid tribute to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation of Pakistan's nuclear programme.

"The beggar prime minister has offered the country as collateral to the IMF [International Monetary Fund]," the former first daughter added, making a jibe at the incumbent PM Imran Khan.

"This is what happens when incompetent and inept people are brought into the government through conspiracies," she added.

The world does not accept Khan since he, according to her, came into power through the backdoor.

"Your nickname is 'Puppet', you are a puppet, and you are controlled by some marionettist. You stole the peoples' votes to come to power, which is no country in the world wishes to give you any respect," she added.

Maryam went on to say: "Your condition is such that the batting order of your ministers is changed and you just sit unawares."

She further remarked that "the same [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi who chose not to answer your phone call came to meet Nawaz Sharif".