Saad urges respect for public mandate, recalling Dhaka fall

Minister says attempts being made to remove govt unconstitutionally

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that stealing public mandate has once resulted in a great loss to the federation in the form of Dhaka fall, and a similar attempt is being made yet again.

“Powers are trying to remove the government through unconstitutional means,” he said while addressing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers in his constituency on Saturday.

If at all, the government should be removed through votes or through a constitutional mechanism, said Rafique, adding that if their government was removed though unconstitutional means, they would come back even stronger.



Describing the stealing of public mandate as a dangerous game, he said not heeding to the majority had resulted in the fall of Dhaka, and a similar attempt was in the works yet again. “Enemies of Pakistan want to destabilise the country, especially in the backdrop of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he added.

Without mentioning the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the minister said, “Why can’t that political party wait for another 11 months?” He added, “First it organised a dharna that paralysed the economic growth of our country and now we are indulged in a blame game.”

He appreciated the role of former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif in maintaining the balance of power in the country.

In a sarcastic manner, he said, “When bitter rivals like the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N had to join hands for democracy, a time may come when even the PTI will have to share a stage on a truck with the PML-N.”



Rafique wondered what Nawaz Sharif’s fault was. “Wasn’t he working for the betterment on different fronts for his country?” he asked, adding, “As a political party in power, it is our right to stop the country from falling into crisis. And this is what we are doing.”

He likened Nawaz Sharif to Fatima Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, Hussain Shaheed Soharwardi, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for “becoming a victim in trying to protect democracy”. He also called former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani a martyr of democracy “because he was removed with a court order”.

Turning to the Panamagate joint investigation team (JIT), the minister said the PML-N respected institutions and their mandate. “We will accept the decision of the court, but it should also take into account our concerns,” he said.



Objecting to PM Sharif being termed as ‘Godfather’ by the court, he said he respected the judge and his decisions, but it was not right to slam the sitting prime minister with the said title.

He also said it was wrong to link PML-N with Sicilian Mafia. “I will defend my party’s leader at any platform, if labelled Godfather,” he added.

Rafique said the JIT probing the Sharif family’s offshore assets had an issue of being harsh with the people summoned for investigation and presenting a bugged conversation before the respected court.

He asked the courts to address their concerns. “If all politicians were painted as thugs and thieves, who would govern the country… how would the democratic system work?”