LAHORE: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said the people have proved that the top court’s verdict which disqualified him was not the ‘real verdict’.
Congratulating his party’s supporters on victory in NA-120 by-election, the newly re-elected PML-N chief said, “You have proven that this [victory] is the real verdict and not the verdict that came before.”
“You have not won just one constituency’s election but were witnesses in the court of truth,” the former prime minister said as he addressed his party’s Youth Convention in Lahore.
In his address, Nawaz said nefarious designs would not keep Pakistan from progressing. He said that he wishes to shower flowers on every single voter of NA-120 constituency for supporting Maryam Nawaz whilst he was getting his wife Kulsoom Nawaz treated in London, adding that the party’s victory in NA-120 was a ‘golden page in history’. He said that PML-N will form the next government after sweeping the next elections due in 2018.
Nawaz Sharif assured the charged party workers that sanctity of their vote would be restored. “The conditions under which the election was contested… I want to congratulate you from my heart … I want to kiss all your foreheads,” the former premier said, adding, “If this passion continues, Pakistan will only move forward. The old traditions will break. The sanctity of your vote will be revived. I have a lot of faith in this passion … it will change Pakistan’s fate.”
The former premier recounted his government’s accomplishments since the beginning of his tenure in 2013. He said that the PML-N had promised with the masses that power outages would be curbed in its tenure and its efforts stand vindicated today. He said that industries are flourishing today and Karachi is returning to normalcy.
He said the PML-N government has reduced load shedding in the country and has worked tirelessly to set up more power plants in the country unlike previous government which did not fulfill their promises. “Power plants which take 20 years were set up in 20 months,” he said, claiming that electricity is being provided uninterrupted to the people now.
He said the PML-N government had ended prolonged hours of power outages in the country, and help lift the industrial sector.
“Every nook and corner of Pakistan has electricity now. Workers, farmers, women, students, everybody has electricity,” the PML-N chief claimed.
Gas loadshedding, he added, has reduced as well as fuel prices. Nawaz further maintained that the credit for curbing terrorism in the country went to his government too.
“Despite all that, I was removed from office,” he said.
“Pakistan was moving forward and the sword of disqualification was thrown our way,” Nawaz said. “Do you know why it was thrown our way?” he asked, while dismissing the allegation that he had accepted a salary from his son’s company in Dubai.
“Why was I ousted, I am still unsure,” he said, adding that he was merely removed for not claiming his salary from his son’s firm. “The people have still not accepted the verdict that removed me,” he said, adding that the determination of the people will change the destiny of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with former prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Jati Umra on Wednesday.
According to reports, the two leaders discussed political situation in the country. The developments after the election of Nawaz Sharif as party chief also came under discussion.
Nawaz Sharif is reportedly set to leave for London on Thursday at 11:00am through PIA flight PK-757. Sources said the former premier has booked the return ticket for January 5.
Former premier’s sons, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, and daughter Maryam Nawaz are also currently in London to look after their mother Kulsoom Nawaz who is undergoing treatment of throat cancer and is currently recovering after repeated surgeries.
Published in Daily Times, October 5th 2017.
