ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing him of electoral manipulation, political engineering and democratic hypocrisy after he criticised the party’s 13-year governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
In response to the prime minister’s remarks at a PML-N parliamentary party meeting, the PTI said Sharif, whose premiership he described as the product of a stolen mandate and backdoor deals, had no moral authority to lecture others on democracy, governance or public service.
The party challenged the prime minister to explain how he had secured the country’s highest executive office through what PTI calls systematic electoral manipulation.
Turning the spotlight on the federal government’s security record, it rejected attempts to hold PTI responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in KP.
The party claimed the province had enjoyed relative peace during Imran Khan’s tenure, accusing the current ruling arrangement of presiding over a deteriorating security situation.
PTI said the Sohail Afridi-led provincial government had allocated substantial funds for police vehicles and operational requirements, but federal institutions had failed to provide essential modern equipment.
The party demanded an explanation for the billions of rupees allegedly withheld from KP despite its growing security burden and sacrifices.
It also questioned the criticism of PTI’s provincial performance, arguing that voters had returned the party to power for an unprecedented third consecutive term.
It said the electorate, rather than an unelected administration, was the ultimate judge of political performance.
Taking another swipe at the PML-N, the party accused its administration of prioritising raids on opposition workers’ homes, removing PTI flags and intimidating political opponents instead of confronting terrorism and public grievances.
PTI further condemned the continued detention of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, demanding their release alongside all political prisoners.
The party alleged that restrictions on political meetings and access to lawyers reflected the government’s fear of PTI’s popularity.
It challenged Shehbaz to explain rising poverty, inflation, unemployment, fuel and gas prices, corruption, farmers’ distress and the mass exodus of skilled professionals.
The party also accused the federal government of weakening parliamentary supremacy, judicial independence and constitutional freedoms while shielding the ruling elite from the economic hardships facing ordinary Pakistanis.
Demanding concrete action, PTI called for the withdrawal of governor’s rule and emergency measures, restoration of the elected KP government, release of outstanding provincial funds, and delivery of KP’s rightful National Finance Commission share.
PTI also demanded the reversal of controversial constitutional amendments and fresh, free and fair general elections.
Stop lecturing the nation on democracy and start respecting the people’s mandate, it said, insisting that Pakistan’s leadership must be determined by voters, not political engineering or unelected forces.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026