Army, judiciary and politicians must work in unison: Shahbaz

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and the PTI Chairman Imran Khan Niazi have joined hands to protect their mutual interests. He said the duo have developed a complete understanding, as Imran has told Zardari that he could do whatever he wanted in Sindh and a similar assurance was given by the PPP co chairman to the PTI chief.

Addressing a public gathering at Choti Zerin on Saturday afternoon, the chief minister said people would reject and wipe out all the PML-N rivals in the upcoming general elections with the power of the vote.

Shahbaz said Imran is known for his lies and had levelled baseless allegations of corruption against him, including those related to the Multan Metro Bus Project. He recalled that he had requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a full bench to probe the project and that he would appear before it to counter the accusations. Expressing his annoyance over the much-repeated but unfounded allegations, Shahbaz said:"I do not have time to reply to liars. I want to contribute all my time to serving the people of Pakistan."

He once again challenged that he would quit politics, if allegations are proved, but in case of Imran, it is the people who would decide his future. "They [opposition] will answer for their lies within three months," said Shahbaz while referring to the upcoming general elections. He said the only thing Imran has done since forming the government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is lying, and both Niazi and Zardari have not executed any work "worth a penny" in their provinces. "You neither built schools or hospitals [in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] and only wasted people's time," he remarked. He also claimed that the PTI's Billion Tree Tsunami in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed and is riddled with corruption.

The chief minister stressed the need for unity and said military, judiciary and the politicians should work together in harmony. Shahbaz said the PML-N believes in development across the country and has fulfilled the promises made with the masses. He added that the PML-N government has brought a positive change to southern Punjab which was neglected for years. Shahbaz said the incumbent government has constructed schools and hospitals and provided essential services to the people by diverting funds to that region.

He asked the party workers and supporters to vote for the PML-N in the general elections so the pace of development could be maintained. Federal Minister Awais Ahmed Leghari and MPA Jamal Khan Leghari also addressed the gathering, while the parliamentarians elected from the area and other personalities were also present on the occasion.