ISLAMABAD – The newly elected President of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif expressed on Tuesday that public mandate should not be insulted, as masses reserved the right to hold public representatives accountable.
Basking in the warmth of the reception extended by cheering party workers at the Convention Centre Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif said that there was anger in his heart too and to deny it would be “hypocrisy”.
“Respected general council members, history shows the struggle of the Muslim League,” Nawaz started off his speech.
Addressing the audience, Sharif said that he was repeatedly ousted, but his workers restored his position adding that the ‘dictator’s law’ now stood repealed.
The former premier also quoted his disqualification by the top court and expressed that the masses knew why he was ousted.
“If there was nothing in the Panama [Papers] then people should have been told this. They should have informed the people of the truth, that Nawaz Sharif did not misuse any public funds,” he said.
“Despite being elected by the people thrice, I was disqualified. Not because of any corruption or malpractice but for not taking a salary from my son,” added the ousted premier.
The embattled Sharif maintained that the right to rule should be given to those who are voted in by the public adding that Pakistan would not forgive them if they didn’t make efforts to change the system.
“We needed to think about what led to the split of the country in 1971,” he observed, and added that it was tragic that “we” continue to do the same things that led to the breakup of the country.
The PML-N president conveyed that all countries in the world kept changing their policies with time, and claimed that those who ignore changing dynamics and stick to the old practice are sidelined over time.
Nawaz reiterated that the 12 questions he posed at the lawyers’ convention in Lahore on August 25 have yet to be answered.
Talking about the cases against democratic leaders, he said the case that led to his disqualification was similar to the one which led to the hanging of an elected prime minister, referring to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
However, “[those] who violated the Constitution remained honest and truthful,” claimed elder Sharif.
The former prime minister highlighted his democracy-friendly actions of the past, citing the previous Pakistan Peoples Party government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and allowing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to form a government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the 2013 elections.
Nawaz said he is hopeful that party will fare even better in the 2018 elections, adding that the people will give their decision regarding [his] ‘eligibility’ then.
The former premier also recited few poetic verses suggesting that one should not ingratiate any ‘disqualified’ individual even if he is to be rewarded with heaven in return.
