PM Shehbaz Sharif addresses rally in Mansehra

Mansehra: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to decide if they want their province and cities to become like Lahore, they need to trust him and leave the side of a lier.

While addressing a public gathering, the premier said that the current government had to raise the prices of petrol but this is all because of Imran Khan.

He said that Imran Khan left us with the burden of enormous debt, and emptied the government's treasury. "Our generations might have to struggle to clear that debt Imran Khan Niazi had forcefully put to the country", he added.

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have rejected the long march based on anarchy and sedition and Shahbaz Sharif will heal the wounds inflicted by Imran Khan.

The prime minister held the public gathering in Mansehra two days after he addressed the nation following the massive hike in the price of petroleum products.

The prime minister said his government was forced to increase the rates of petroleum products as the previous regime had "emptied" the national exchequer.

PM Shehbaz acknowledged the "pain" of the people due to the rising inflation but blamed the PTI-led government for the issue and said his team would work to reduce it.

Lashing out at Khan, the prime minister said he did not deliver on his promise of five million homes during his tenure. "But we have, to cushion the inflation's effect on people, have announced a subsidy package."

"If I get a chance, I will turn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Punjab," he vowed, giving an ultimatum to KP CM Mahmood Khan to reduce the price of wheat in the province.

The prime minister termed himself the "servant of Pakistan" and labeled Khan as a "miscreant" — in a reference to this week's riots in Islamabad and across the country, which saw the deaths of three people, including a policeman.

"I will fight till the end for people's prosperity," he added.