My warnings on problems within not listened to: Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has claimed that conspiracies are afoot to shift the public views, block the way for a certain political party, and pave the way for the darling.

Addressing a crowded news conference after returning from Saudi Arabia here at the Punjab House on Wednesday, Nawaz Sharif said his warnings to purge problems within were not listened to.

"I have always said that we should look at ourselves often and ask ourselves why the world does not take us seriously. But every time I have said this, the comment has not been taken seriously and sometimes it has been termed as 'Dawn Leaks' and at other times as other conspiracy theories," he said, adding that sometimes even his patriotism was doubted.

Referring to verses of Allama Iqbal, he recalled that we should ask ourselves why the world never listens to us in spite of the countless sacrifices that our police, security forces, civilians and even children have given over the past 17 years. “Why is our narrative not being accepted?" he questioned. "We need to search for the answers to these questions."

He said if these questionsare sidelined and the answers for them are not sought, then it would count as self-deception. He said it is because of these self-deceptions that Pakistan has been polarised in the first place. "We should step away from this self-deception now, and the country's leadership, all its institutions should join hands to find the answers to these questions and provide solutions to them," he added.

Nawaz Sharif warned that if this does not stop, he would spill the beans on them, right here in Islamabad, with all the evidence. He also threatened to lift the curtain on "what has been happening for the last four years in Islamabad" if "they" do not stop their "propaganda". He said he will tell the tale of the past four years and tell the nation what has been going on here all that time. "I will tell the nation what is happening now, and how the electoral process is being sidelined by imposition of personal opinions," he added.

The former prime minister also came hard on the US President Donald Trump for his tweet against Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif, who was flanked by senators Dr Asif Saeed Kirmani and Pervaiz Rashid, read out carefully choreographed statement without taking questions. He said the people who have done nothing for the nation's development, and whom the country has rejected repeatedly, should not be patted on the back and imposed on the country. He said Pakistan's people are aware and are capable of making their own decisions, and their opinions and sanctity of their vote should not be destroyed.

Nawaz Sharif also explained how elections in Pakistan have historically not been taken seriously, preventing successive prime ministers from completing their terms. He reminded that the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that the nation's decision was never wrong, but here over the past 70 years, either the public's decision is twisted or their choice of leader is turned into an example for all to see. Because 2018 is a year for elections, he said, this worn-out rule of the past is being applied again today. He said the most recent assessment of the numbers says that the PML-N is still ahead of any other political party and its vote bank is still larger than the vote bank of all other political parties combined. He said those afraid of this truth are trying hard to change the reality and turn it into something else.

"I want to say in crystal clear words today that this country's fate is linked to free and fair polls. Every political party should have equal opportunity to take part in the exercise," he said, adding that secret telephone calls and deals should not be used to tie our hands, and to give the darling a new deal and latitude. "Democracy should be given a chance to grow in the country," he said.

While responding to the US president’s tweet, Nawaz Sharif recalled that a civilian government would never have "sold itself" to the US in the post-9/11 scenario. He said that if in 2001 a democratic government were in place in Pakistan instead of a dictatorship, the country would never have sold its expertise or self-respect to the US.

Nawaz Sharif made it clear that his government does not care for the US threats to cut funding to Pakistan. He said the US president's tweets are a matter of concern for Pakistanis, who view his words as offensive and disrespectful.

Describing Trump's tweet as "non-serious" and "sad", Nawaz Sharif said a head of state should remember the rules of engagement while addressing a fellow state. "We should not be taunted about the US aid," he said, adding that he would "advise Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to formulate a plan that ensures we don't need any US aid so that such attacks are not made on our self-respect".

Nawaz Sharif said that a coalition fund should not be called 'aid'. “We do not even need such a fund and our support should not be demanded in return. The US president should know that as soon as we, the PML-N, came into power in 2013, we took effective steps to end terrorism in Pakistan,” he said, adding that Operation Zarb-e-Azb had broken the back of terrorists. He reminded that it’s not 2001. He said a dictator is not ruling the country, and one telephone call will not scare us. "I have been the prime minister of this country thrice. A lot of facts are in front of me. As a respectable citizen of Pakistan, I would like for us, as a nation, to assess our own situation," he urged.

He observed that the national leadership, media, think-tanks and institutions instead of indulging in political blame game would have to find answers to the questions as to why Pakistan’s sacrifices were being ignored by the world if “we want to see out our tomorrow better than today”.

Earlier, talking to the media outside the accountability court, Nawaz said the way election results in NA-120 were a referendum, the 2018 elections will be another referendum. “I have been ousted on the basis of a mere Iqama, whereas the person who confessed his crimes and utilised tax amnesty scheme has been declared as Sadiq and Ameen,” he said.

Nawaz said that Imran Khan during the by-election in NA-120 had said that results of this election will be a referendum after verdict of the Supreme Court. “I want to tell you that Imran Khan Sahab, not only you but the Supreme Court also lost that referendum in NA-120 and truth prevailed,” he said.

Nawaz Sharif also mentioned different visits of the incumbent chief justice to the hospitals etc. and said that he had been doing all that leaving out his judicial functions.

Regarding the bail of Imran Khan from the anti-terrorism court, Nawaz Sharif said that it is too big a game and it has many secrets concealed under it. “I will tell you in detail about this as all this is a part of strategy,” he said, adding, “This no justice that you thrash a person, after tying his hands, and award clean chit to another who openly confess his crimes. Now the time has changed. This is neither 1958, nor 1999. Now people in this country are aware.”

Responding to the questions about his recent visit to Saudi Arabia accompanied by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz said we have longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia since the partition of the Sub-Continent. “We have special relationship with Saudi Arabia that kept strengthening with the passage of time and the Saudis love Pakistan. My trip was not out of the blue and I am astonished that what sort of rumours and speculations are being spread here in Pakistan. The people who spread these rumours didn’t commit any wrong to me but to the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries,” Nawaz said.

Talking about the corruption references pending adjudication, Nawaz said what sort of embezzlement and corruption is this, that they still got no clues after passage of such a long time. He expressed astonishment that why he has been forced to face these proceedings when there exists no proof.