Lahore: State Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lived up to all the promises made to the people in 2013.
She was speaking to the media on arrival at the residence of late Asma Jahangir where she offered her condolences to the family.
She said under Nawaz’s leadership the country had been put on the path to sustainable economic development, adding that now the former PM would restore the sanctity of people’s vote. She said that Nawaz Sharif’s pledge to restore justice and sanctity of the vote would be fulfilled in 2018, adding that the people of Pakistan would soon give their verdict against those who talk about rejecting laws passed by the Parliament.
Aurangzeb reiterated her party’s position that the tradition of sending home elected prime ministers before completion of their mandated term should come to an end.
She said 17 PMs had met that fate. The minister said that such ad hoc decisions had retarded the process of development in the country.
She said it was inappropriate to refer to someone elected by the people’s representative as the prime minister by terms like ‘Godfather’, Sicilian mafia, thief and dacoit. She said that no corruption charge against Sharif had been established based on evidence.
“Those desirous of breaking the PML (N) must be disappointed to see Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif sitting together, flanked by Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz at Lodhran today,” she said, adding that the convention in Lodhran had sent a strong message to the undemocratic forces.
Aurangzeb further said that the people of Lodhran had given their verdict on the eligibility of Nawaz Sharif by voting for the PML (N) candidate. She said now it was the turn of the people of Sheikhupura to extend a warm welcome to Nawaz Sharif. Sharif is scheduled to address a rally in the city on Sunday (today).
The minister said that those who relied on the finger of the umpire were fated to remain disappointed. She said that all segments of the society must think about development of the country and strengthening of democratic process. She said that every institution of the state had its own legal and constitutional position and it was incumbent upon them to extend due respect to one another.
She dismissed as false and baseless allegations leveled against the PML-N by Ayesha Gulalai. She said Gulali should have revealed the name of the PML (N) leader who offered her the Senate ticket.
Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.
