Not umpire’s finger : People’s thumbs make decisions, says Nawaz

LODHRAN: A charged crowd at the PML-N workers convention outrightly rejected the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, raising the slogns of “disqualification unacceptable”. The gathering emotionally responded to Nawaz, the PML-N president, when in his address he said he was ousted for not receiving salary from his son, and they rose from chairs, saying unacceptable, unacceptable.

“People of Lodhran, you have proved that the decisions are not made by the umpire’s finger, but by the thumbs of the masses. Lodhran’s mandate is echoing loudly across the world. By the grace of God, we will turn every constituency across the country, another Lodhran in 2018 elections. How should I thank you. I want to hug and kiss you,” said the three-time prime minister. "You have restored the sanctity and respect of the vote," said Nawaz who was in the city to thank and congratulate the people for securing victory against the PTI candidate in the NA-154 by-election.

He said: “It is election year and the people of Pakistan have to take some major decisions." He then asked them to promise him that they would "ensure the sanctity of vote, would vote at all cost, and you would not allow ouster of the elected prime minister again.” Nawaz asked the people if the ouster of prime ministers would continue in the future. The crowd responded by waving hands and saying ‘No, No’. He said corruption of not even a single penny and no bribery or kickbacks could be proved against him.

Talking about the repeated removal of the civilian governments, the deposed prime minister asked the participants to promise that the things happening in the country for the last 70 years, won’t be repeated in the future and they would play their role to end the culture of disqualifying elected prime minister.

“You have made me happy for protecting the sanctity of vote in the NA-154 by-poll. You have won my heart and soul. I bring Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza [Shahbaz], Maryam [Nawaz] to thank you on protecting your right to vote. I promise to you that I will stand by you at all the levels in the future,” said Nawaz.

Blasting Imran Khan, he said the blue-eyed boy was now saying they had learnt a lesson from the NA-154 by-election. “Now you do not learn a lesson as the entire nation would teach you a lesson. The people of Lodhran have set a trend for the entire the country.” Nawaz said Imran Khan was against the Metro, declaring it ‘Jangla Bus’ but he has started the project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after five years of his government. He promised with the participants to increase the numbers of Speedo buses for Lodhran district.

“I only speak the truth, and I have been serving the people since 1985. Now Shahbaz Sharif serves the people after me. We have laid down a network of roads across the country, farm-to-market roads, chains of hospitals and educational institutions. We are providing cheap electricity to the agriculture sector and have reduced the rates of fertilizers,” he noted.

About Asif Ali Zardari, the deposed prime minister said: “Did you question those who plundered public resources, destroyed agriculture and industries, and left behind serious problems for the PML-N” The PML-N government brought peace in Karachi where the PPP was ruling, he added. Nawaz said his party ended the hours-long loadshedding.

Earlier, Shahbaz in his speech said the PML-N has snatched the ATMs from the IG of liars [Imran] and thanked the people of Lodhran for throwing them in the River Sutlej. He said Imran has appealed to the people in Lodhran to reject the looters and plunderers, and the people of Lodhran ejected them in the by-poll.

The chief minister said Zardari did not install energy projects during his tenure and plundered the national wealth. He announced construction of bypasses at Dunyapur and Pattanwala besides Abu Turab Bridge. Speaking in Seraiki, he said the people of Lodhran have won his heart and he would obey their order at every cost.