LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has criticised the previous PPP government for ‘criminal’ negligence in execution of power projects.

“The former government of the People’s Party showed criminal negligence in energy projects and gifted the problem of load shedding to the nation,” he was quoted as telling a delegation of the PML-N here on Monday.

“It didn’t take any practical step to solve this problem.”

He said had the former rulers given attention to solving the energy crisis instead of plunder and corruption, the country would not have been in darkness.

Mr Sharif also targeted the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman by saying: “Niazi sahib, there is a huge difference between politics and sports ground. You have earned niche in sports but have lost it in politics. And, public service through politics is beyond your capacity.”

He alleged that the PTI chief spread lies, agitation, non-democratic norms, hypocrisy and name-calling in the country during the last four years.