Former PM Nawaz Sharif speaking to the media Nov 22, 2017. Photo: Geo News

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif came down hard on the ruling party's harshest critic, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Wednesday. 

Speaking to the media after attending the proceedings of the accountability court which is hearing three corruption references against him, Nawaz said, the "dictator?s black laws were rejected on the floor of the house yesterday".

He was referring to the rejection in the National Assembly on Tuesday of the Elections Amendment Bill 2017, which sought to restrict disqualified parliamentarians from heading a political party after 163 members voted against the proposed change in the legislation.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N president lamented the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) moving of the amendment bill, saying, "the PPP's support for this bill hurt me. The party's action has made me question their democratic credentials".

He added that the party's past struggles and sacrifices for democracy do not sit well with their present action [of supporting an anti-democratic law].

Talking about the PTI, Nawaz said there is nothing democratic about the party, adding that the PTI is not even a political party [due to its link with dictators]. 

Earlier, speaking informally to journalists inside the courtroom, Nawaz said his government was not allowed to work, adding that despite the dharnas (sit-ins) which started from 2014, the country progressed.

Witnesses record statements in corruption cases against Nawaz, family

Court is hearing three corruption cases against former PM Nawaz Sharif, his family

Referring to the courts' alleged lenient attitude towards PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Nawaz said the rules of the game should be the same.

He said court decisions in their case come swiftly and wondered when the decision on 'their' cases will come. "The courts' double standards are becoming evident," he said further.

Corruption scandals of PTI leaders Imran, Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan also surfaced, he said further.

Nawaz also hit out at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, a PTI leader, saying he used official vehicles to lead rallies against the federal government during the 2014 sit-in.