Scaredy cats: CM says ‘Zardari-Niazi nexus’ based on fear

Stresses both leaders are scared of rate of progress in Punjab

LAHORE: The “Zardari-Niazi” nexus is a result of the fear of the development process in Punjab province. One has turned Karachi, which was once the city of lights, into a filth depot, while the other has ruined the beauty of the historic city of Peshawar. This stated by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as he referred to the warming ties between PTI chief Imran Khan and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Talking to MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana and other members, the chief minister said people were longing for development and prosperity instead of destruction and devastation. “The fear of the development agenda of PML-N has forced the promoters of the politics of falsehood to unite. Niazi Sahib has disappointed the youth by colluding with the biggest malady of the country,” he said. The CM continued that the hapless people of K-P and Sindh are facing tremendous problems and have become a picture of neglect. “The elements doing the politics of falsehood and mendacity can never be leaders of the nation,” he maintained.

Shehbaz said that the energy crisis and terrorism have been eliminated due to the sincere efforts of the PML-N government. “Meanwhile, the people of Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi-Islamabad are enjoying the latest and most comfortable transport facilities. If given the opportunity, world-class transport will be introduced in other small and big cities on the pattern of the metro.” He expressed his satisfaction over the provision of subsidised fertilizers, cheap electricity and interest-free loans to farmers. He claimed that the initiative would forever be lauded.



Shehbaz Sharif said he wanted to develop other big and small cities and regions, including southern Punjab, along the lines of Lahore. He pointed out that more development funds had been provided to southern Punjab compared to its population. He added record development in that region were the result of the PML-N government. He disclosed that more innovative schemes will be introduced to bridge the economic divide between the haves and have nots at the grassroots. He said that government will further promote development schemes relating to health and education because provision the best facilities had been provided to the masses. “This is our commitment,” the CM asserted.

MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana and others congratulated the chief minister on becoming the PML-N president unopposed.

The parliamentarian hoped that the party would continue the mission of public service with renewed vigour under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif.



On Tuesday, the Central General Council meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-N, held at the Convention Centre Islamabad, on Tuesday, elected Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as president of PML-N, unopposed.

According to a DGPR handout, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, federal ministers, Senior PML-N leaders, members of the executive committee and a large number of party workers attended the meeting.

After being elected PML-N president, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that it was a matter of great honour to be elected as acting party president by the central working committee last week.  He said that now that he had been formally elected as president, he said, "This moment is an important, but difficult phase of my life.” Shehbaz added that he had been asked to perform duties on the post of a revered personality under the compulsion of the situation. “I have always looked to Nawaz for guidance and patronage in my whole political career which has spanned more than thirty years. I fully understand it and I can say it frankly, without any fear or contradiction, that I, or any other party worker, can never think of replacing Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was our leader yesterday; he remains our leader today and will continue to be our leader in the coming days.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2018.