LODHRAN: A charged crowd at the PML-N workers convention rejected outright the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, repeating the chant of “disqualification unacceptable”.
The gathering emotionally responded to Nawaz, the PML-N president, when he in his address said he had been ousted for not receiving salary from his son, as they rose from chairs, saying unacceptable, unacceptable.
“People of Lodhran, you have proved that the decisions are not made by the umpire’s finger, as the matters are decided by the thumbs of masses. Lodhran’s mandate is echoing loudly across the world. By the grace of God, we will make each constituency another Lodhran across the country in 2018 elections. How I should thank you. I want to hug and kiss you,” said the three-time prime minister. “You have restored the sanctity and respect of vote,” said Nawaz who was in the city to thank and congratulate the people for securing victory against the PTI candidate in NA-154 by-election.
He said, “It is election year and the people of Pakistan have to take some major decisions and promise me that you would ensure the sanctity of vote, you would protect your right to vote at any cost, you would not allow ouster of elected prime minister.”
Nawaz asked the people whether ouster of prime ministers would continue in the future. The crowd responded by waving hands and saying ‘No, No’.
He said corruption of not a single penny and no bribery or kickbacks could be proved against him.
Talking about the repeated removal of civilian governments, the deposed prime minister asked the participants to promise that the things, which had been 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 on protecting the sanctity of vote in 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 with you at all levels in the future,” said Nawaz.
Blasting Imran Khan, he said the blue-eyed boy was saying that they had learnt a lesson from 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 was starting 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 speak only truth and 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 agriculture sector and have reduced 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 by completing a number of energy projects and eliminated terrorism from the country.
Earlier, Shahbaz in his speech said the PML-N had snatched ATMs from the IG of liars [Imran] and thanked the people of Lodhran for throwing these in River Sutlej.
He said Imran had appealed to the people in a public meeting in Lodhran to reject looters and plunderers and the people of Lodhran really rejected them 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 had won his hearts and he would obey their orders at every cost.
