Former prime minister and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has once again vowed to continue struggle against incumbent PM Imran Khan and against those who brought him into power.
Addressing the PML-N’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting through video link from London on Thursday afternoon, former Nawaz expressed concern over skyrocketing inflation, unemployment and poor economic indicators while holding the present regime and ‘those having powers of making or breaking governments responsible for the prevailing mess’. The PML-N top leadership including Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Raja Zafarul Haq, Kh Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Raja Farooq Haider, Maryam Nawaz, Iqbal Zafar Jhaggra, Rana Sanaullah, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Muhammad Zubair and members of CWC gathered at the party secretariat Model Town to listen to the ex-PM, discus prevailing situation and devise future course of action in the wake of arrest of Shehbaz Sharif.
“I cannot sit quiet watching Pakistan’s current situation. We are neither deaf nor dumb, nor are we goats or sheep. No one should try to silence me as I would continue raising my voice for rule of law and bringing real democracy in the country,” Nawaz said. He promised to the PML-N activists that he will not let them down and will remain steadfast on his ideology, saying he was not worried about the consequences.
He accused the present regime of pushing the poor people towards starvation. He said poor were unable to afford food and send their children to school. “Is this what the ‘State of Madina’ looks like” he questioned?
“In our tenure, we kept the prices of essential commodities under control. Growth rate was 5.8 per cent. Now it was in the negative. The PML-N government had kept the dollar exchange rate below Rs100. Pakistan was on the path of progress and prosperity. Now no country is ready to stand with Pakistan”, he said, adding, PM Imran Khan and his selectors were equally responsible for downfall of economy and isolation of Pakistan in the comity of nations.
He reiterated that struggle was not against Imran Khan but it was against those who stole the elections and brought him into power. “You have destroyed Pakistan in every field. Where are promised 10 million jobs. Where are the people who brought Imran into power? They should answer to the nation as well.”
“Imran is a selected prime minister imposed on this country. We don’t give any importance to him. Those who brought this gift to us should answer. Why did they steal the election and mandate of the Pakistani people,” he said. Nawaz alleged that the PTI government was brought into power through rigging on Election Day and by breaking away the votes of smaller parties and independent lawmakers. Despite all this, Imran Khan became the prime minister by a majority of only four votes. “Who were the people of the tractor [election symbol]?” he asked.
Nawaz said his brother Shehbaz Sharif was arrested without being heard, while Imran Khan had refused to accept the resignation of retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa who he alleged had amassed assets worth billions in the United States. He alleged that an unknown person was enabled to become the Senate chairman after sabotaging the elections for the Upper House.
He further said he has no respect for the people who amass foreign assets and steal the people’s mandate. Moreover, the PML-N has announced to hold phased protests against Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest from October 3. In the first phase, demonstration will be held in Lahore while protests will also be staged in Gujranwala, Faisalabad and other cities of Punjab in the second round.
