People to hold Zardari accountable if NAB, courts don’t: Shahbaz

JHANG: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday criticised the PPP leadership for its ‘anti-democratic activities’ and said Asif Ali Zardari talking about corruption is like "the thief crying stop thief".

Shahbaz also stressed that politicians, judges, generals, bureaucrats and parliamentarians must work to form a new social contract. “All the stakeholders must work together if we want a Pakistan as envisioned by Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam,” he said.

He said those who had robbed the country were complaining about others. “If NAB and courts do not hold Zardari accountable then the nation will,” said the chief minister who was addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of 1263-MW RLNG-based Punjab Power Plant near Head Trimmu in Jhang, which would be completed in 14 months at the cost of Rs 80 billion.

Shahbaz said the PTI would never get votes from the lower and middle classes as the people from the upper class surrounded the party head. On corruption allegations, the chief minister said no corruption could be found even if the NAB chairman investigated 56,000 cases against him.

“If even an ounce of corruption is proven against me then the nation is free to hold me accountable,” he added.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chinese ambassador, federal cabinet members Awais Leghari and Abid Sher Ali, and others attended the ceremony. Meanwhile, only one – Sahibzada Nazir Sultan – out of the five ruling party MNAs from Jhang attended the event. Pir Hameed uddin Sialvi had claimed that the resignations of MNAs Sheikh Muhammad Akram, Imtiaz Ahmed Lalai and Ghulam Bibi Bharwana were with him.

Moreover, local journalists had been barred from the attending the function, as they were only allowed to access official video link and press release. No one from the government official was ready to comment on the issue.