Politics of service won, arrogance lost in Lodhran: Shahbaz

LODHRAN/LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said the politics of public service succeeded in the NA-154 by-election as the people of Lodhran had uprooted Imran Khan’s ATM and dumped the same in River Sutlej.

“I salute the people of Lodhran as they have shattered the ATM and threw it in River Sutlej,” said the chief minister in address at a workers convention organised in honour of party chief Nawaz Sharif to celebrate the victory of PML-N candidate Iqbal Shah in the recent by-poll.

“The astute people of Lodhran have rejected the politics of arrogance, haughtiness, lie, accusation and anarchy,” while the politics of public service emerged as a winner, he said.

The chief minister said, “The historical victory of PML-N in Lodhran is not only getting recognition in Pakistan but in the whole world and we have gathered here to thank the people of Lodhran for this wonderful success.”

Talking about the claims made by PTI nominee Ali Tareen and his father Jahangir Tareen before the election, he said, “These people made arrogant claims that we have already won the election and the only thing to determine is the lead of either 50,000 or 60,000 but their arrogance was rejected by Allah.”

He said “the IG of liars” [Imran Khan] 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. “You people have won me with your wise decision and now I will serve you with much more dedication,” he said. He said the way the people had chosen a down to earth person had made him and Nawaz indebt to their love.

Shahbaz said from quiet a long time, he had been pointing out the elements involved in taking loans from the hard-earned money of widows, orphans and poor people and then seeking clemency on political basis, but unfortunately it remained noticeable at every forum.

“Despite owning lavish residences, vehicles and factories, they have sought exemption from returning the loan on political basis,” he said and added that they faced justice in the by-election.

About the PPP leadership, the chief minister said Asif Ali Zardari did not install energy projects during his tenure and plundered the national wealth.

During his speech, Shahbaz also announced construction of bypasses at Dunyapur and Pattanwala besides the Abu Turab Bridge.