Should I resign on your demand, go and play cricket? PM

Says rallies not suitable places for mothers, sisters: tells rivals managing the country is not their cup of tea; govt constructing roads, they are only measuring them; staging protest is their fate; announces special development package for Okara

OKARA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday made it clear that he won’t resign on anyone’s demand and said his government would continue following the agenda of serving the masses, leaving the political adversaries with no option except holding protests in vain.

Blasting the opposition's demand for his resignation, he, without naming the PTI or Imran Khan, said, "Will Nawaz Sharif resign on your demand, go and play cricket? Politics is none of your business.”

The prime minister said they did not have the ability to run the country. “Playing cricket suffices you. You cannot even play that now. I played cricket too and am serving the people as well," he remarked, addressing a rally at Shergarh, Renala Khurd.

The prime minister said the rivals held tiny public meetings as the people would have seen on TV the previous night, whereas his public meeting was really a mammoth meeting.

Nawaz Sharif said his political opponents knew that if the PML-N government continued with fast pace of development, their public presence would be squeezed forever.

"We will continue by serving the masses, and they will hold protests as it is their fate. We are constructing roads, and they are only measuring them," he added.

The prime minister said it was strange that the ‘inventors’ of loadshedding were protesting against it and urged the audience to account them for dragging the country into darkness.

In a veiled reference to the way women are treated at the PTI rallies, the prime minister said public meetings were not a suitable place for “our mothers and sisters”.

He lamented that the past regimes had done nothing to alleviate the suffering of the masses and asked the people to question their inability to serve them during their tenures. "We are dealing with woes left behind by them," he added.

Nawaz Sharif said his government was not sitting idle whereas the elements opposing the pro-public approach had been busy in conspiring because they understood that the PML-N enjoyed massive public support and affection.

“I am overjoyed to see the swarming public in this meeting, which is far bigger than my rally in 2013,” the prime minister recalled.

“I would not disappoint you,” he said, adding that his visit was aimed at renewing his pledge of constructing a motorway through Okara-Dipalpur from Lahore to Multan.

He announced a mega development package for the Okara city comprising an industrial estate, gas supply, up-gradation of hospital, construction of a flyover and linking the city with motorways network.

He lauded the enthusiasm of the audience and said he would be visiting every nook and cranny of the city carrying along a message of prosperity and development.

The prime minister reiterated his government's resolve to salvage the country from loadshedding by 2018 as power projects were about to be inaugurated on monthly basis. In this regard, he mentioned Bhikki, Sahiwal, Haveli Bahadhur Shah, Baloki, Port Qasim and Neelum Jhelum power projects.

He announced to visit the Depalpur city before the month of Holy Ramazan to announce development projects.

He said Rs 470 million would be spent for gas supply to Okara city, Rs740 million for Depalpur Chowk flyover and Rs200 million for uplift of the city's roads. The existing 200-bed hospital would be upgraded to 500-bed facility, he said accepting the demands earlier put forth by MNA Riaz-ul-Haq Juj.

The prime minister also announced a grant of Rs1 billion and Rs 500 million respectively for the supply of gas to 100 villages and union councils of the area for addressing the basic issues.

Recounting his government's achievements, the prime minister mentioned revival of peace in Karachi, perishing terrorism, prospering farmers and price decline in agricultural inputs.

On the occasion, a local politician Abdul Razzak Niazi announced his decision to join the PML-N by expressing his complete confidence in the party leadership.

Earlier, the local MNAs, in their addresses, welcomed the prime minister and thanked him for generously accepting their demands for a development package for the city of 3.2 million.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister inaugurated a gas supply scheme for the city, besides performing the groundbreaking for the Rs740 million Depalpur flyover to ease the traffic congestion.

The prime minister also joined the ranks of farmers to formally inaugurate the wheat harvesting activity.

He visited the tomb of Hazrat Ibrahim Daud Bandagi Kirmani (RA) and laid a wreath on the grave and offered fateha.