Nawaz Sharif: 'Our Neighbours Have Reached The Moon, We're Still On The Ground'

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has once again praised India, stating that while neighboring countries have reached the moon, Pakistan has still not risen from the earth.

Sharif made the remarks while speaking to the PML-N cadre in Islamabad on Wednesday (20 December).

The PML-N leader emphasized the severe economic crisis in Pakistan, asserting that the country is to blame for its own decline.

"Our neighbours have reached the moon but we haven't even risen from the ground so far. It can't keep going on like this," Sharif said.

"We have been responsible for our own downfall, otherwise this nation would have reached a different place," he added.

In his Wednesday address, Nawaz Sharif, campaigning for his fourth term as Prime Minister, reflected on his achievements.

He stated, "In 2013, we were facing severe load shedding of electricity, we came and ended it, ended terrorism from all over the country, restored the peace of Karachi, highways were built, CPEC came, and a new era of development and prosperity began".

Nawaz Sharif reportedly pointed out that he has been removed from his position of power on three separate occasions: in 1993, 1999, and 2017.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif stated that neither India nor the US are to blame for the financial difficulties of his country.

Instead, he implied that the country's own actions, particularly those of its powerful military establishment, are at the root of its problems, using the metaphor "we shot ourselves in our own foot," as reported by Livemint.

He pointedly laid blame on internal factors, particularly the powerful military's manipulation of the 2018 elections, leading to economic suffering and people's hardship.

The 73-year-old leader also criticised judges for endorsing military dictators while approving the removal of a prime minister and the dissolution of the parliament.