Don’t test my patience, PM tells political foes

Says he is being victimised in the name of accountability

UPPER DIR: Warning his political rivals against testing his ‘patience’, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed on Thursday that he was being victimised in the name of accountability which the nation will not accept.

“Do not test my patience. Stop this circus now,” Sharif told his foes, particularly PTI chief Imran Khan. He was addressing a gathering of people hailing from Chitral and Dir districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at the inauguration of 10km Lowari Tunnel.

“I’ve not been voted to power by these people and they have no right to ask for my resignation,” he said, adding: “Those demanding my resignation need a reality check as they have been rejected by the masses in 2008 and 2013 and will again be spurned in 2018.”

Sharif said some people were talking about his accountability. They are seeking accountability of a person who was building power plants, roads, infrastructure projects and changing the lives of the people. “It is exploitation, not accountability. No one in Pakistan will accept it,” he added.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif inaugurates the much-awaited Lowari Tunnel for traffic in Chitral. pic.twitter.com/z10DybUeOs

— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 20, 2017

Nawaz wonders what he is being held accountable for

Sharif said he had always asked what corruption he had done. “Have I got some commission by selling trees? Did I get kickbacks worth billions of rupees in Lowari Tunnel or in new roads, or power projects?” he asked.

The premier claimed that his government had rather saved Rs168 billion in three power projects.

“I cannot tolerate such ridiculous allegations against me. For me, my respect and that of my family is far more important than anything else. Anyone daring to disrespect me should first see his own deeds,” he added.

He said when his party came into power the world was viewing the country as a failed state. The country had been plunged into darkness, with depressing economic indicators, lawlessness and terrorism.

He recalled that the four-month long sit-in in front of the Parliament House had dug the ‘grave of democracy’, put a shroud on the Constitution and law of the land, and tried in vain to bury the system.

“A stage play was enacted but we refused to bow to elements of chaos. I only bow to Allah Almighty and no one else," he added.

Hitting out at the PTI chairman, Sharif said: “Every morning Imran Niazi begs for my resignation,” adding that the PTI should be ashamed of its performance in K-P, whose people have now rejected Imran’s party.

“They received votes in the name of change and promised to bring revolution in the province but today they are asking for my resignation. They have proved that sham change has no place in K-P and the PLM-N will bring the real change in the province,” he added.