BHIMBER: Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said those accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were running the election campaign of the son of James Goldsmith against Sadiq Khan, the son of a Pakistani labourer, for London’s mayorship.
Speaking as chief guest at a public meeting after inauguration of regional passport office here, he said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was standing by the son of the labourer. “How could the person, who did not support a fellow Pakistani in the London mayoral election, expect that Pakistanis and Kashmiris would vote for his party,” he asked.
The minister said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan apparently proceeded to London for some investigation process and told the public about the same. “In fact, he was there to run a campaign against Sadiq Khan, who was contesting the election for London’s mayor against Zac Goldsmith.”
He said Imran Khan was opposing the Pakistani and running the campaign for the son of Goldsmith. “The person, who was opposing a Pakistani, had no right to ask the people of Pakistan and Kashmir to vote for him, he maintained.”
About the health of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said doctors had conducted his medical check-up and provided required treatment to him. With the prayers of people of Pakistan and Kashmir, his health was improving and he would be back in Pakistan soon. There was a long tale of conspiracies against Nawaz Sharif through news stories, the minister said. He said the PML-N came into power three years ago and the country was now making progress. Unfortunately, some people were trying to hinder the journey towards a prosperous Pakistan, he added.
He said the PML-N got success in general elections of 1990 and 1997 and it was their mandate to have the government for five years. Unfortunately, its governments were not allowed to complete their tenure and the public mandate was not respected.
He said Nawaz Sharif believed in politics of principles. Had the development projects initiated by the PML-N 26 years ago not hampered, there would have been great progress in Pakistan today, he said.
In 1997, the minister said, the PML-N government could not complete its tenure and hijacking allegation of a plane was made to topple its legitimate government. “It was very unfortunate that allegations were made against such a leader who gave better road infrastructure through constructing a motorway and made Pakistan an atomic power through six nuclear explosions in 1998,” he added.
The minister said Pakistan had made unprecedented progress during the last three years, but there were a few elements who could not digest to see the country on road to prosperity and development. He said China having huge population had become a powerful economy while other countries of the region were also making progress. Pakistan would also be made a prosperous country, he added.
He said when the PML-N came into power in 2013, the AJK had a PPP-led government, but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided for its continuation and respected the people’s mandate who authorized them to govern for five years. The PML-N’s mandate, he said, was not respected twice, but it decided to respect the AJK people’s decision.
