Speaking to the media on Monday after chairing the party’s Central Working Committee meeting in Islamabad, Sharif recalled the Judges’ Restoration movement in 2009 and called on the people to show the same zeal to restore the rule of law in the country.
“After restoring the judges, I thought that the law will prevail in the country but that did not happen. The Zardari government never accepted the law and refused to comply with the court orders,” Sharif complained.
He added that all over the world, leaders step down from their posts after being convicted but here the government ‘makes fun’ of the court orders and the leaders keep ‘sticking’ to their posts.
The party chief called on the opposition parties as well as ‘every Pakistani’ to come out on the streets to take the country forward. “I invite all the opposition parties to rise above all political differences and unite for this cause,” said Sharif adding that the party will also approach the Election Commission of Pakistan to pass a decision regarding Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s disqualification.
“I am very upset today, we are standing at a tragic point. We had dreamt that the country would be run in a beautiful manner… I signed the Charter of Democracy. I would have been satisfied and a happy Pakistani if the government worked according to the charter. But this government has disappointed me.
“If the government had done some good work, I would have been happy to see it in power for five more years… But we can’t hand over the government to animals.”
The decision to hold a long march to pressurise Prime Minister Gilani to step down was taken during the party’s Central Working Committee attended by senior leaders including Ahsan Iqbal and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The party’s parliamentary committee will be meeting under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Nisar shortly.
The PML-N has repeatedly called for Gilani to step down as prime minister since the Supreme Court of Pakistan convicted him in a contempt of court case after he refused to write a letter to Swiss authorities, asking that cases against President Asif Ali Zardari be reopened.
The largest opposition party – PML-N – has already announced it would continue to force the ruling PPP to nominate a new prime minister.
Gilani has repeatedly refused to step down, and has recently stated that his conviction has nothing to do with disqualification.
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COMMENTS (61)
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@Roadkashehzada Do you think that we, the people of Pakistan, are fool or do you think that you are too much clever? There is no clause in constitution through which govt can call impeachment of chief justice.The only way to remove chief justice is through article 209.Impeachment can only be done for president.Resigning from assemblies will not result in writing the letter to swiss courts; rather, it will pave a straight way for new elections.After the new elections, if opposition parties get elected they will be able to write thousands of such letters.It is as simple.
Mr. NS and his party is 100% sure that their leader/Party has no chance either to form a government in Punjab so what to talk about in center. I think this is the reason they want to derail democratic growth in the country. In Punjab it is said ' Na Khaydan gay tay Nai e Khaydun DewaaN gay" this means, neither we will play nor we will allow others to play. In fact they are bunch of businessmen who have nothing to do with the welfare of ordinary person other than of their own class. Simply delicate darlings who can not face hardships.
The PPP realise the Shareef brothers are no longer relevant and the contempt shown to the PML-N bosses must realy hurt them.
I will support Imran, not Nawaz this time. He really ditched us.... kept on enjoying power for 4 and half years... and now at the time of elections.... huh...
a court that has been headed by a DOUBLE PCO JUDGE can never be right and reliable shouldn't he resighn so faith in judiciary's independence and impartiality is restored?
You want us to come out and do sacrifice. Sacrifice your seats and resign first to show us your commitment. Don't enjoy perks and ask our sacrifices.
Too late, PTI has already announced the 'Tsunami' march
No! Not protest! Half the country is on protest every other day of the week. There hasn't been a single move the government has made in a long time that Sharif has not prolonged for even petty reasons. The same thing will be happening under a slightly (and I'm being generous with 'slightly') different motives.
I hope Sharif's can stick to this announcement.
I never knew that Article 190 of the Constitution (Action in aid of Supreme Court) also refers to the army of jaahils lead by PMLN. This is clearly an attempt to obstruct the process of the court and undermine its authority and to show that the Court is nothing without PMLN support. Little doubt in the fact, then, that Sharifs have always remained more powerful than the Court.
Joke of the day...
Fact of the day is that country is not in position to face any movement,its broken economy demands peace and works and deep consideration of all projects going on this time.
It is dire need of the time,we move forward each others and create unity among our ranks,and do all that is indispensable for welfare of the people and the state.
Some particular groups,operating inside the parties with negative resolve don't want peace and stability in the country. We should understand their hidden designs and adopted the way leading to country's welfare and people's well being,
In case we lost chance,history would never forgive us.
@PTI-trolls,
I mean seriously guys, you're more vocal than Imran Khan on this issue, IK isnt going to do anything, believe me. Apart from that your friends in MQM have supported the PM, IK will inshallah soon follow what Altaf Bhai has said
For once I am with Nawaz. He has taken a quicker and bolder stance than even IK here. Hope its not just for political gain but he truly gets PM to step down.
Mr. Sharif. You have lost the moral high ground for complaining or protesting with more than 4 years of extremely friendly opposition. I feel that you just want to remove this government to bring more power to the kids in your family (just like the lil theivin' Gillani kids). Mariam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz are both eager to jump into the fray and that is what you would like. No thank you very much. If they/ you want to serve Pakistan/ humanity, join Edhi.
@WB: Why they should resign. They are not stupid enough to resign. If they will then PPP will take the seats of All PMLN candidates and in the coming budget they will spent massively in PMLN constitutions and will win from these seats. Shah Mahmoud did the huge blunder by giving his seat to Yousaf Raza's son and now it is said that he will not win on PTI ticket from Multan. Same could happen with PMLN.So PMLN will never resign. I hope the pseudo Politcial commentators will stop talking for a while. Politics is more like a Chess game and only some people could understand that .
Go Gilani Go! Go Zardari Go! Go Sharif Go!
That's what happened when you don't finish the job___ when you take-over a government that is. That's what happened when the ruler is too lenient or forgiving or don't use an iron fist in our culture. Now you see why old-rulers were the way they were?Another round of Noora Kushti; NS resign if u are serious
Smart moves by Mian Sahib. Tsunami is planning to stay neutral.
Compared to Sharif brothers everybody else is immoral for not compromising and apologizing to the dictator, running away twice from Pakistan, leaving their party in the hands of Hashmi for jail and sacrifices, attacking the SC while in session. Yes nobody can have this many qualifications. PML-N has no future except a few seats in upper Punjab as a regional party. Their seats would most likely go to PTI.
So, now Nawaz Sharif says he'll contact PTI for long march against PPP. But a while ago, PTI was with PPP and ISI. I'm confused now.
I remember the day before Long march of PMLN and i read the same comments n ET where Nawaz Bashing was in full swing by Burger Bachas on this forum but after two days when judges were restored then there was a silence in the forums of the ET and this time around this will happen as well. I was the all out support of PTI and i was one of those who joined PTI in 2000s but now since PTI is on a collision course and now PTI is more like a ( Pakistan Anti Nawaz) rather than Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf so now sorry PTI i left you and all of my friends did the same. Keep on criticizing Nawaz for your hidden agenda. PTI is more like a Mercenary of PPP, ANP and MQM right now as they are a hindrance to a strong opposition and that is why Coalition parties are only bashing Nawaz while at the same time Supporting Imran Khan,
If this would have come from Imran Khan i would have sure gone out.. but from Nawaz.. not gonna go out mate. You have fun :D
Part of the reason Nawaz is sounding desperate now is to protect his own corruption especially since Rehman Malik announced that within days they will open up cases against them! Things are heading towards an explosion of some sort especially baring in mind the situation in Lyari, Balochistan and US-Pak relations! And now political turmoil something will have to give!
Mr. Sharif or Mr. 'Holier than Thou' you have also been accused of massive corruption. Some aspects:
Like Bhutto, offshore companies have been linked to Sharif, three in the British Virgin Islands by the names of Nescoll, Nielson, and Shamrock and another in the Channel Islands known as Chandron Jersey Pvt. Ltd. Some of these entities allegedly were used to facilitate purchase of four rather grand flats on Park Lane in London, at various times occupied by Sharif family members. Reportedly, payment transfers were made to Banque Paribas en Suisse, which then instructed Sharif ’s offshore companies Nescoll and Nielson to purchase the four luxury suites.
-At least $160 million pocketed from a contract to build a highway from Lahore, his home town, to Islamabad, the nation’s capital.
-At least $140 million in unsecured loans from Pakistan’s state banks.
-More than $60 million generated from government rebates on sugar exported by mills controlled by Mr. Sharif and his business associates.
-At least $58 million skimmed from inflated prices paid for imported wheat from the United States and Canada. In the wheat deal, Mr. Sharif ’s government paid prices far above market value to a private company owned by a close associate of his in Washington, the records show. Falsely inflated invoices for the wheat generated tens of millions of dollars in cash.
Is there going to be accountability? Suo Moto?
Long March to Jeddah? Or protests in London? Which one, Nawaz?
Should i believe you? No way
It amazes me how much Nawaz and their party gets influenced by PTI. I mean come on, PML-N is such an old and experienced party and so is Nawaz Sharif, but Nawaz sharif and their party has become such a copy cat of the PTI. ..Just listen to how Nawaz shareef talks these days "wicket" "change" "ball" all words used by Imran Khan...look at their jalsas, they do everything PTI does minus the concert. PML n has even started sending similar SMS via "smsall" Its so annoying
LOL......Nawaz Sharif u are coming out for a long march for the rule of law. Why dont you resign from the Assemblies and why dont you dissolve the Punjab govt? Oh wait who will distrubute those laptops then????You are not sincere at all to the people. You just want to be PM......
ok all the hyenaz time to run away..lions on the roar...and PTI u dont even fall in hyenaz level!
plzzzzzzzzzzz name this plmn policy. bhoooonda march:)
And i am not resigning !
resign from assembly and give government way to hold by elections and get 2/3 majority and do anything including impeachment of chief justice. thats the plan???? remember this whole saga started for a letter of USD6m. do u think PM will write letter to president to dissolve assemblies if PMLN resigns???
Its a deciding point... "harangue" is not enough, its a time to join hands n save our God Green country... this gallantry can only be done by a laity leader, We r with u Nawaz n appeal all civil society to plz join hands ... "No more hoodwink from PPP" ...
Nawaz Sharif had no choice to announce long march/protest as pressure was on them to since PTI announced long march after the court appeal! So Nawaz had to do go further! This announcement reflects that! I feel PTI has missed a trick by waiting for the appeal it should have immediately announced long march! Reports indicating that Nawaz is going to contact IK with respect to long march! Interesting to see Imran's response but I agree Nawaz needs to resign from the assemblies first if people are going to take him seriously!
oooo shush PML-N, all the mess is because of you guys. Have gutts, resign now and sit outside the parliament till the govt shakes. This is what 'pressurising' means. You always seek refuge behind masses.... this is time, come up-front and be a leader. Everyone is sick and tired of your meaning less calls.
Nawaz lost the credibility and morality the very day when he fled the battleground with 40 suitcases, leaving behind his comrades at the mercy of a dictator. He then kept on lying to the Pakistani nation with a flat face. He destroyed APDM inside out. Now no one takes him seriously anymore. In current scenario, his MNAs and MPAs still love to remain in the assemblies. The master of flip-flops will use this threat of "long-march" just to counter Imran Khan's Tsunami March. In the end, nothing will happen.
Same old same old cheap politics by Not-so-Shrifs.
NS we bank on you.You are the only hope in the current situation!Good bless you
Surely asking the prime minister to leave office is the right thing. But do it in the right way. By asking for a long March to Islamabad will do untold damage to the economy. Think of thousands of daily wage people how would it impact on them. But what am I saying or pleading, our leaders have no understanding of economics or are not concerned of the hardship of poor people. Its all about power, family and loot mar. Jiwe Jiwe democracy in Pakistan.
I think all these gimmicks are to keep attention away from election commission but only on elections.
good job nawaz sb
Nawaz! please go back to Jeddah.
After this rhetoric, I am guessing he is soon gonna run away to London again for 'medical checkup' . Anyone wanna bet?
Nawaz should have given a date for his movement. I think nothing will nothing will come up as a real show down. Just kidding the nation
@Aliza PTIANS you are spared...Enjoy!!
4 yrs of friendly opposition and now this sudden change of heart as election nears. Is it that easy to fool us?
You are basically all talk. Why don't you leave all the 90 seats in NA, the government will automatically fall?
This is called a 'muted' response....what else could the 'friendly' opposition do in this case....
Nawaz your time is over. Your party has been left behind. Protests, long march etc are just bravado and face saving for your faux pas over unnescessary haste in asking for PM's resignation. Retire and go live in London. That is best for you as you can enjoy undeclared assets there without RM hounding you.
Forget Nawaz . This time i want to see Imran khan's long march .
Noora Kushti.......if serious then resign from assemblies to force new elections
For Rule of Law and to remove convicted PM to save our judiciary we are with you.
NAWAZ You are true leader
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to launch a protest movement inside and outside of their ......
Protest..???? Long March ...?? Pressurize..???
Sorry Sir, you do not have guts to do any of these. But yet you were forced to make an announcement for "Long March", afterall, PTI has already annouced it so it was imperative that such a statement should be released.
If you have an iota of sincerity, simply RESIGN from both assemblies. But your lust of power won't let you do this.
Keep thinking that you still successful in making awam fool.
Nawaz!!!!! Please Spare us...
PML-N has damaged their own credibility by their repeated withdrawals from their own decisions. How far they will go in this protest, hard to ascertain.