Will fight till last breath: Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said all negative tactics are being used to push the country backward, but he will not let it happen.

“Inshaallah, I will fight for the people of Pakistan till the last, and will never tender my resignation,” he said while addressing the parliamentary party meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, here at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

Nawaz said he wished he could say everything, and that morning when he would be able to do so would dawn one day. He said that governments in the past had been toppled over accusations of corruption and being a security risk. The pretext would not work anymore, he warned.

The resolve of PM Nawaz Sharif not to step down received an incredible boost when the PML-N parliamentary party overwhelmingly and passionately announced its support for his stance.

The participants in the extraordinary meeting that continued for about three hours announced they would stand by Nawaz Sharif come what may. The meeting discussed the political situation at great length in the backdrop of the ongoing Panama probe findings and dashed the hopes of Nawaz Sharif’s detractors, as parliamentarians turned up in the meeting in record numbers, including those who had been uneasy with the affairs of the government for quite some time. They all announced their unflinching support for the prime minister in the hour of crisis.

The allies of the ruling PML-N have also pledged their support for the prime minister, including the JUI of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s PkMAP, National Party of Balochistan, PML-Functional, PML-Zia, and NPP of Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi.

A day earlier, the whole cabinet whole-heartedly extendedits support for the Premier’s endeavour.Addressing the members of the parliament, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he believes in the rule of law, independence of judiciary and democracy. He said that the controversial report by the controversial JIT was a bundle of baseless allegations of our opponents which have been fabricated over a long period of time. He said the “controversial” report of the JIT was mere a pack of accusations by opponents and lacked any substantive evidence. “Not a single sentence of the report gives a clue that Nawaz Sharif is guilty of corruption,” the PM said. He expressed confidence that the court would listen to his apprehensions regarding the JIT report.

Nawaz categorically said that he had a clear conscience and would not resign on the demands of those who were rejected by masses not once, but several times. He thanked the nation and his party members for standing with him with full unity and devotion.

“Mention, if you know even a minuscule corruption case against me during my five tenures of government or against Shahbaz’s tenures,” he stressed. He said none of the contracts and tenders relating to his hundreds of projects was blemished with commissions, kick-backs or corruption. Nawaz Sharif said an uncalled for campaign was launched following his success in 2013 general elections, including dharnas (sit-ins).

“Now this is the third attack, but Allah is with us and so is our nation,” he said. He regretted that elements favouring political instability and uncertainty were proving detrimental for the country.

PM Nawaz Sharif said in the past as well, he braved all challenges put to him and remained steadfast on his stance and ideology.“Even I did not lose heart when declared ineligible to contest elections and not bowed before the dictatorship of General Musharraf,” he added.

Nawaz said he conducted a long march for the restoration of judiciary, risking his own life, whereas those claiming themselves as big leaders went underground. He said several American and British leaders had telephoned him not to endanger his life by leading the long march.

“I believe in democracy, rule of law and independence of judiciary. The long march was a difficult mission, but our sincerity ended in success by the grace of Allah,” he said.

Nawaz said never in the country’s history, the power generation projects were initiated on such a large scale. “Who will hold accountable those who forced the country into the age of darkness owing to power outages,” he said, referring to the previous government not paying heed to severe electricity crisis.

“While installing three power plants only, we saved Rs168 billion. Is this the norm of corrupt people,” the PM asked. He said his government along with the military eliminated terrorism amid the news that terrorists were about to reach the Capital.

“We broke the back of terrorist elements by hitting them hard, improved Karachi’s law and order and attained stability in Balochistan where the flag of Pakistan now flutters high,” he said. He said the national economy was progressing well and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could rise above seven per cent had the continuous conspiracies of anarchist political elements ended. He recalled that before 2013, Pakistan was going to be declared a failed state; however, such scene was out of question now.

“I feel sorry that once again efforts are being made to push the country backwards, ruining our profound hard work done,” he said.

He said the Sharif family had been targeted over its business matters spanning over 62 years with assumptions and allegations. He said there was no single sentence in the so-called JIT report that pointed out corruption committed by Nawaz Sharif. The PM said there was not a single case of corruption or malpractice against him and Shahbaz Sharif during their tenures in the past. He said the unjustified campaign against the government was launched soon after the Election 2013, and since then hurdles had been created in its way to service of masses. He regretted that elements creating political instability and uncertainty were damaging the country. He reminded that the stock market, after touching 54,000 benchmark, was now witnessing a downward trend due to the negative situation created in the country. He said a good number of power projects were launched during his tenure and several have already been completed. He said who will hold accountable those who are pushing the country towards darkness.

The party members overwhelmingly participated in the discussion and the meeting summoned to chalk out strategy in response to the opposition’s calls for premier’s resignation.

Sources said the members warmly welcomed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by thumping desks on his arrival. They gave a big round of applause and offered a standing ovation on his arrival in the hall. In the beginning of the meeting, legal experts gave a briefing on the JIT report and the government’s response in the Supreme Court.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reportedly urged the party leaders to refrain from criticising the Supreme Court bench hearing the Panama Papers case, as well as other state institutions.While addressing the meeting, he also advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to strengthen his legal team and fight the case thoroughly.