Will you stand with victim, Nawaz asks people

GUJRANWALA: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that conspiracies were being hatched against his government for the last three-and-a-half years, and pledged to make Pakistan a great country.

“If you agree and keep your promise, we will change the country’s destiny,” he told a big gathering in Gujranwala. He said he had presented his case in the court of people, as they had made him the prime minister. He said he would like to face the conspiracies instead of sitting calmly at home. He asked the charged crowd to wait for his call for launching a struggle to make Pakistan a great country.

Nawaz asked the people, “I don’t expect you to reinstate me, but I want you to support me for the betterment of this country.”

He asked the crowd whether they would stand with the oppressed, and people replied in affirmative.

He asked the gathering to promise him that they would join him when he would give a call for the purpose. He said until the mandate of the people was respected, Pakistan couldn’t make progress.

“We will have to make sure that the mandate of the people is respected in future; we have to make sure no conspiracy against an elected prime minister succeeds now.”

Nawaz said, “It happened with me for the third time. Is this not an insult to your vote?”

He said the gathering was a referendum and the court of the people of Pakistan had given their verdict in his favour.

Nawaz also paid tribute to the child who was killed earlier Friday in Lalamusa and said he would visit the child’s household and would help them as much as he could. He also prayed for the child’s soul. “He was the first martyr of our struggle,” said Nawaz.

Speaking in regard to the allegations brought against his premiership, he said he did not steal a single rupee. “Prove the corruption that you say I did,” said Nawaz challenging his opponents and added that once again he was not allowed to complete his tenure. “I say once again that I have not come here to get myself restored. I have come for the dignity of the country, to get the country’s dignity restored.”

Reiterating his earlier statements from Gujrat, Nawaz said democratically-elected prime ministers were never allowed to complete their tenures.

“How unlucky is Pakistan that not one prime minister completed his tenure. There were 18 prime ministers who ruled for a year and a half on average, while three dictators ruled for 30 years.”

Nawaz also called upon the ones who gave the ruling against him to see the people announcing their verdict.

“When they didn’t find any excuse, they disqualified me for not receiving salary from my son. Do you think it was justified?”

“They only ousted me on paper, but not from the hearts of the people. Tomorrow these people would again elect me as their prime minister.”

The former premier said Pakistan was developing as a nation and industries were being set up, unemployment was being reduced and the country was moving on the path of peace and prosperity. “But they could not tolerate this. They thought that if Nawaz succeeded, then PML-N would come into power next year.”

Nawaz also thanked the crowd gathered at the venue.
“I want to thank you all for coming here to support me,” said Nawaz.

Referring to his earlier long march for the restoration of judges, he said Gujranwala has always been lucky for him.

Replying to the crowds’ chants of “Mian Sahib, we love you”, the former premier said: “I love you too, Gujranwala”.

Earlier on his arrival, the former prime minister was welcomed by a massive crowd of supporters in Gujranwala on Friday evening, his third day of the journey home to Lahore. He will spend the night in Gujranwala before moving towards Lahore on Saturday.

Earlier, addressing a crowd in Gujrat, Nawaz again asked for support to help him bring about a change in the country.

Playing to the crowd of supporters, Nawaz asked if the people had accepted the verdict against his premiership, the question received a resounding chorus from the crowd, which answered in the negative.

“Have you accepted the court’s decision? My appeal is in your court. Nawaz Sharif’s appeal is in your court.”

Reiterating his statements from his address a day earlier in Jhelum, Nawaz said the mandate of the people was torn apart when he was kicked out of office. He added that it was a matter of respect of 200 million people and no one could take this right from the people.

The disqualified premier also reiterated that he had not indulged in any corrupt activities.

“Why was Nawaz Sharif ousted? Someone should tell me what corruption charges I am facing. The judges are saying that Nawaz Sharif has not done corruption. The nation is asking why I was ousted.

“Millions voted for Nawaz Sharif and a few dishonourably ousted Nawaz Sharif.”

He asked for how long the ‘joke’ of ousting democratically-elected prime ministers go on as no prime minister has completed his tenure. “Today, there is power in the country, the farmer’s tubewell is working, loadshedding is about to end in the country, prosperity is returning to the country.”

The route of Nawaz’s convoy was changed after he had addressed his supporters in Gujrat’s Central Point.

Nawaz departed from Jhelum at around 11:30am on Friday, continuing his journey to Lahore via the GT Road.

Nawaz Sharif was also greeted by hordes of supporters in Sarai Alamgir, Kharian, Lalamusa and Gujrat.

Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique on Friday said people were giving a warm welcome to their leader Nawaz Sharif as he had served the country fearlessly and with great commitment.

Addressing a public gathering in Gujranwala, he said that people of the country had elected Nawaz Sharif as prime minister three times. People had given mandate through their votes to Nawaz Sharif for the five-year term, he added.

“We had always fought for democracy and challenged dictatorship regimes in the country,” Saad Rafique said.