Street riots only hurt democracy: Nawaz

ISLAMABAD:

PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said the real forum for the protection of the Constitution was parliament rather than the streets.

“Rioting on the roads has always damaged the Constitution and democracy,” the three-time former premier told Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasir and Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who called on him in Murree.

During the meeting, the Senate deputy chairman congratulated Nawaz on being elected as the PML-N president.

The former premier also congratulated the Senate deputy chairman on assuming his office and expressed the hope that he would play an effective role in the upper house of parliament for the strengthening of the federation, national unity and promotion of democracy.

On the occasion, the PML-N president said parliament should be strengthened instead of “pointless” protests on the streets for the protection of the Constitution and the upholding of the law, because that was the real forum for achieving this purpose.

A day earlier, the PML-N president maintained that he had never harboured any thoughts of seeking revenge against incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan.

“I am not the person who takes political revenge,” Nawaz said while chairing a parliamentary party meeting in Murree.

He continued that as he did not believe in political revenge, he and former premier Benazir Bhutto had signed the Charter of Democracy.

However, the PML-N president lashed out at the PTI founding chairman for ‘wrong’ policies and political victimisation.

He also described Imran as the main obstacle in political reconciliation and harmony across the country.

The PML-N president instructed the party senators to actively highlight public issues in the upper house of parliament.

Nawaz praised the efforts of his younger brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for the “sharp decline” in the prices of essential items.

“Pakistan would soon come out of its crises,” he added.

The PML-N chief said the government should frame policies, which would bring down the prices of electricity and gas.

Welcoming former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s sister, Saadia Abbasi, to the meeting, Sharif recalled: “I remember when Shahid Khaqan and I were in jail, Saadia tirelessly served us day and night. She faced very difficult times. We endured so much that my daughter was arrested before my eyes. They could have arrested Maryam outside, but their aim was to break me.”

Nawaz highlighted his long-standing relationship with Shahid Khaqan, whom he described as a “steadfast companion” during difficult times.

The PML-N president also stressed the need to strengthen the party.

He maintained that no other party’s government had brought as much development and prosperity in the country as that of the PML-N.