FAISALABAD: The forlorn opposition appears to have finally found the government’s choking point.
Addressing over 20,000 at a rally in the Dhobi Ghat Ground of Faisalabad on Sunday, PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif demanded that an independent inquiry commission be formed “within a day or two” to investigate claims that the government sought US support to take action against its own military and intelligence services.
Failing this, the party will converge “from all provinces” in Islamabad where a petition would be filed with the Supreme Court, Sharif warned.
He said he would not stand by idle when “the country’s sovereignty is being sold and self respect compromised.”
One clear message that emerged from the otherwise chaotic rally was that the party would focus on memogate to bring the government to its knees.
In a speech that ended in couplets from Punjabi poetry, Sharif also warned those who played games on behalf of intelligence agencies and said he would put an end to this.
Nawaz Sharif had much ground to cover at the rally, seen to be held in response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally in Lahore earlier this month. He said that Imran Khan had misled the people on the issue of declaring assets. “We have declared our assets,” he said, adding with a flourish: “I have devoted everything to the people of Pakistan.”
Nisar takes on Imran Khan
It was left to the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar to hit out at Imran Khan. Nisar alleged that Imran “was backed by intelligence agencies.” The PML-N senior also had some advice: “Only one rally cannot decide public support.”
Sanaullah criticises ‘Zardari mafia’
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that by turning up in large numbers at the rally, the people had shown that they rejected the “corrupt Zardari mafia”.
He also described Imran Khan as a pawn of the establishment, and said Mian Azhar, who recently joined Khan’s party, was known for his ties with intelligence agencies.
‘PTI sought help from Jewish lobby’
The burly Pir Sabir Shah, senior PML-N leader from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, in his speech said that his party’s fight would be against Zardari and “other corrupt elements.” He said that Imran Khan had sought support from the “Jewish lobby”.
Disputes over numbers began even before the rally. The PML-N said it had put 30,000 chairs at the venue, while opposition leader Raja Riaz said the ground did not hold more that 13,000 seats. PTI divisional coordinator Tariq Chaudhry added that the PML-N would try to fill the gaps with 5,000 plainclothes policemen. He accused the party of using state machinery to beef up the gathering.
The PPP has seven, the PML-N four and PML-Q eight of the 20 National Assembly seats from Faisalabad division.
Govt response
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan in reply to the Sharif statement on Sunday evening said that no unconstitutional step can destabilize the democratically elected government.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (132)
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Its funny how the sharif brother are actually taking the 'jalsa' as the actual competition. It shows how narrow minded they are!
PML N is a Expire politics party... Now we r watching PTI ....a Change is coming
PTI is another PMLQ, corrupt politicians are gathering around imran khan like they did in mushraff era.
i predict, N league will lead the up coming poll with PTI as main opponent
@B: We need someone like Erdoganto make sure Army stays in barracks. And there is only one person who can do that. Nawaz is the Erdogan of Pakistan, or will be if our so calle educated youth starts thinking for a minute.
hahahahaha....dat was funny...where was ur nawaz on 12th of OCT when a general came out of barrack and showed ur Erdoganto way to Attock...do u think he can keep army in barracks .....n dont u forget he himself was adopted by Gen.Zia...
What a show of strength on TAX payer money .Further to gather crowds Patwares were allocated 1000 plus target each .PML N should come out of these practises .
@ pakistanwala No I am not. We need to rein in the khakis dude. And who at the moment is the only one even questioning them? I didn't hear Imran even squeak when it came to ISI and Army .
Btw, check today's news. Imran is meeting with Munter in presence of Pasha. Seriously?
It won't be too long before you start questioning my patriotism ( Well that's what all PTI supporters do). I won't go that road. You vote is yours and you have all the right to cast it for whatever reason you deem fit. That's democracy. If you vote for Imran because you like his eyes, it won't make you a lesser human being. All I can say is, before you do, please reevaluate our history and think. We have a chance that never existed before. Someone ready to rein in the khakis and that is who I will support.
You can be a troll and hit me with a barrage of negativity. But I will stand by what I said. Nawaz has finally grown and cane become the Erdogan we need. Or you can bring him ( and if thats the people will, then so be it) and in 10 years start looking for the new messiah.
nawaz sharif and PML(n) leaders are requested to please look at their own performance in punjab. mian sahib if u r feeling so much pain for pak and u realy want to show sacrifice for pak so please sell ur steel mill in Saudi Arabia and established it in pak. this will give employment opportunities to Pakistanis and its revenue wil contribute for prosparity of pak. more over plese donate ur other assesst to pak to pay back the loan the country borrowed from IMF and other banks. iassure u that all pakistanis will vote for u and would treat u a great leader after quaid.
@Ahmad Hammad: Services? Plz mention some. Every time they get the power make the whole nation taxi driver?? Is that the service you talking about???
These all above are PTI supporters, so all comments are useless to read. They cannot encourage to others, they cannot listen to others, they have no patient, all are fake and they have given tasks to go on Social Media websites and online newspapers to promote PTI.
I was expecting a real show ..but the same old thinking, same old paid supporters who don't even have clue that why the hell people are screaming of the dice and what ??..same old allegations ..nothing new at all... !! But what PTI Pulled in Lahore ..Was Remarkable...This PMLN Show was just sad ...And for those who are saying that establishment is playing the game here..may be so..But Establishment can not make Someone a leader ..Simple as that...
rent a supporter rally... wat a shame
@Maryam: Insha allah PTI will sweep the next general elections & will clean our beloved country from these corrupt politicians. NS is past. IK is the future.
Nawaz Shariff should know about corruption, he apparently is now the second most corrupt pol after as he says the present governmetn is the most corrupt
Same old face, telling same old lies. Mian Gee supported Zardari for over 3 years and now when the election is closer all of a sudden they discover he is corrupt! the truth is they always knew he was corrupt and yet they supported him in the center and PPP was part of the punjab government as well for over 3 years. PML N is equally responsible for the mess Pakistan is in today. PML N politics is based on nepotism. You cannot fool us you copy cat brothers!
Long live Imran Khan!!!!!!!!!!!1
PTI trolls out in force I see. And for all the people who say IK's rally was greater, well, duh, it was at Minar-e-Pakistan. A more apt comparison would be IK's rally in Fsd at the same place, which drew no more than 7,000 people. I know because I also went.
Now go to Karachi. I bet you can't!
"Addressing the massive rally of over 20,000",...... I dont think i need to look at anything else in this story.
Our good actions can change our circumstances no PTI,no PPP,no PML
@Haq Sir, maybe people dont trust your ideal Mr. Nawaz Sharif enough to pay him in his scheme. I myself did not pay as I know Mr. Nawaz on his own can help us get rid of the debts. All we ask of this 'great leader' is to bring his money back from UK and Saudi Arabia. Had he shown the initiative, Im sure the money collected would have been enough.
i do not understand why you are so big supporter of PMLN sitting in lodon you must have spend some family time with them..... get life it is the change of generation and change of time you can be one isolated Brit who has nothing in pakistan and benefit in no way i have been following your comments you love Nawaz family for some personal reasons think about poor people too who live whole month on the cost of your Baskin robbins visit @Maryam:
@"I only want to be PM": and some coment on news to safegaurd benefits to their families and reltaives... get some life you know who you are fighting for ...
Awesome Jalsa in fsd ... I was not aware that pmln has indeed done something practical for pakistan ... Keep up the good work ...
Sirf baatain karny walay kuch nahi kar saktay ....
It is very obvious that since the PML-N has decided to spend money on internet forums to counter PTI, all of a sudden so many supporters of PML-N have shown up on discussion forums. I think these are all fake guys supporting PML-N. Real people can not support these fake/incompetent, so called leaders.
spare us blood sucking parasites
Lolz......Chor machay shor.....
1- 20,000 collectively for the four big guns of PML N (Nawaz, Hashmi, Nisar, Rana) which means 5000 / Leader? not even the one tenth of what Khan gathered alone.
2- Jemima Khan is a Christian and not Jew, so this "Jewish Lobby" rhetoric is as hollow as PMLN itself.
3- ISI when sponsored rally after May 02 incident could not gather more than 200 people in her own support, how on the God's earth they gather 200,000 for PTI? In fact Chaudhry Nisar is an old tape recorder which continues to play the same boring record.
4- And last but not the least, the days of PMLN Politics (Insha Allah) have been numbered.
Maryam
When you will get sick and tired of the people who looted the country and because of people like you will again do the same ..... The PTI supporters are really sick and tired of them and if you have problems with that then very sorry to say Inshallah you have to continously get sick because this time we ain't letting anyone building some new "Mahal" or some factory anymore from our money !!
If the patwaries teacher etc bring big crowed and organize thies type of rally for PML N this is the worried time for all other party and candidate except agencies hired wining candidate @Khalid Javed:
@ Haq One can easily smell spirit of people from this crowd. Such a dead Jalsa...
Where are the people? . Nawaz is addressing people and people at back are leaving congregation lolz.I am laughing really !!!
All white clothed, as if they came from a same place, uniformed like, like from kachehri, thats why sanaullah is so loud
@B:
You kidding?
massive rally of over 20,000
Massive just got a new definition! Good one ET!
What a load of bollocks...the real culprits of this beautiful nation are the people who will continue to vote for these political parties.
why not all other party use the money for the beterment of hungery people insted of rally only the mian brother rallly......? @Bhatti:
Sher :)
guys u have to understand if they are sincere about bringing change to the country all they have to do is resign from thier assembly seats not conduct rallis
PML(N) zinda bad
@Sam Jeddawi: Do you think there are hundred thousand patwari's in Pakistan and they all were there? Wat a nasty comment.
@Nadeem - sir please come out of dark era of 1990's and live in 2011where we have over 60+ channels to show us the reality. Any sensible person who can read Financial Times can easily guess on influential ambassador whic Mansoor Ijaz had mentioned in his article. We all know the propaganda show and it's credibility of this liberal pseudo anchor. So please stop propaganda against PTI and let be honest to admit it was a good show of Patwaris and low grade Punjab government employees sponsored by 90 MNAs and 200+ MPAs of PML(N).
This was a massive public meeting as far as Faisalabad is concerned. Mian Nawaz Shariff continues to hold the fort in Punjab, whatever the PPP may say. This PPP cannot hold such a meeting anywhere in Pakistan, except in Karachi, where the MQM can lend them a crowd.
What this procession was about??? PML N is in govt so what are they doing by these gatherings, wasting public money. If you want to challenge Central govt, resign from assemblies and take them up in Islamabad. What a despicable show....
Happy to see that IK is on nerves of the so called politico elite of country;;IK isnt a made leader by establishment;IK rocks;;wish Ch Nisar to join PTI; seems unfit there
@Ahmad Hammad: mate im struggling to see what Nawaz sharif and co have done for Pakistan. I know he has made a billion pound empire for himself and his aulad, through corruption. He did all this whilst avoiding to pay taxes on his known income. He and his friends in the mafia are basically conmen who have no morals.
PMLN show for today was just an effort to outnumber PTI jalsa on 30th but unfortunately they failed miserably here. Punjab people no more are with PMLN or PPP.
@Usman Lakhani: It's not the question who paid for banners. Real question is who supported the rally - public or agency. And everybody knows who is being supported by agencies.
Nawaz couldn't even fill a small ground with people..........I guess after this flop jalsa...the remaining PML-N workers who had some doubt are going to join Imran Khan.
successful jalsa goog very goog.pml n
@Haq: How wonderful. Two days prior his release, Mr. Nawaz Sharif jetted his "broken" heart to London, and brother dearest followed.
Well done Nawaz Sharif! We are with you... Keep it up....! Nice Reply to Agencies supported minor parties...
@Maryam: I question that response - can you stop anyones right to defend his point of view? shouldn't that be the core principle to peacefully discussing politics and NOT take up arms and thuggery as the only means to settle a political score. PTI does not engage in gun politics that siad each supporter in his/her own right defends his/her party, at times the discussion may go a bit off the tangent, BUT it is as much my right to defend PTI, as it is YOUR right to criticize.
If you dont like a persons attitude, or behavior, STOP, block and remove him/her from your discussion.
That said I totally denounce using derogatory and abusive language. But if someone does, they do it in their own capacity and no one from PTI can stop or censor them, you have to simply mark the comments as spam, do it repeatedly and very soon the IP address would be flagged within any commenting system
a very logical speech by nawaz shareef.....just wached a talk show after the JALSA in which pti's represntative was unanswerable when he was asked that hussain haqqani's name was disclosed on 17th of oct but imran khan has already named him on that issue in his 30th oct JALSA....now the point is how did he get to know of this? sorry to say but imran khan, so called a man of hope by some sarcastic and immature ppl, is yet another a back channeled agent...and one thing very interesting pti members come with pages in talk shows but what r they haha i cant understand that.......and lastly imran khan was very much against mqm but no tl bout them haha keep it up baray khan sahab :P
Amongst five contenders of power (AZ, IK, NS, CJ and COAS), Mr. Nawaz Sharif is better. Zardari is tested, Imran is inexperienced, CJ wont accept army rule and army will not accept CJ. Nawaz Sharif can go along with CJ and future Army Chief. He has very good relations with Saudi Arabia, USA, Britain, China and Turkey. His party has roots in all provinces. Let's give one more chance to Nawaz Sharif untill Imran gets more experience. Imran's supporters are mostly young people. Their whole life is ahead of them. They can wait few more years.
I don't get what r they tryin to prove doing jalsa over and over again just to show their puff strength
Doesn't matter how many they do rallies they were beaten by PTI in one shot so go ahead bald
head brothers fulfill ur pathetic wish.
@Muhammad Asif: each patwari ,tehsildar and numberdar was asked to provide 50-100 people if you doubt me visit your local patwari and ask him . and also ask from the transport owners they will tell you how they were forced to transport these people from the whole division of faisalabad and were not even paid for it
nice comedy show for rented people gathered all over punjab the only difference between PTI rally and pml n rally was that PTI rally was full of people who gathered by their own will while the pmln comedy show was full of punjab police in civilian cloths and patwaries from all over punjab
@Saad Durrani: He spoke about R.D. Case where IK was quite.....Please read all the detail of the APC recently held....he asked the people who are in real power (who are supporting IK) that's why IK could not speak more than one line while Mr. Nawaz spoke more than half hour seeking all the reply......
@Khan: Qarz Utaro....Mulk Sanwaro is a proof of a very good thought that really knows cure of most of the dieses of Pakistan.....taking Pakistan out of this foreign interfarance BY paying off all the loans and by not asking for any aid. But unfortunately not enough money was collected for that program. The money that was collected was a small little fraction of the loan that Pakistan had to pay..that money was spent for Pakistan....the after government did all kinds of investigations but could not get a single proof of corruption........about Imran Khan's shoukat khanum hospital I would like to bring your attention about IK collecting money from Pakistani's from all over the world...collecting money from rich and also from poor...collecting money from school kids...who forced their parents give big donations than their approach...Kids who gave their lunch money.....I remember kids didn't eat lunch for some days and collecting the money to give to IK....But did IK put any of his contribution in it....by seeing his properties including plaza's and 300 Kanal house where 26000 RS meat is served to the dogs... it seems he did not contribute anything as at the time when IK played cricket there was not much money in cricket......have you ever thought about that
...
Just watch this to decide between PML N and PTI
http://www.zemtv.com/2011/11/17/to-the-point-pti-vs-pml-n-exclusive-with-shahzeb-khanzada-%E2%80%93-17th-nov-2011/
There are list of leaders in PMLN who are not only stalwarts of PMLN but stalwarts of Democracy too who have great achievements in development of Pakistan in and out of parliament. To name a few include, Javed Hashmi, Sa'ad Rafique, Ch. Nisar, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Hanif Abbasi etc etc. But on the other hand PTI starts and ends at Imran Khan.
It so shameful that they copied Imran Khan style of jalsa.
PMLN Is past, PTI is the future
@Zulfiqar: I have listen to the speech of Imran's Lahore gathering on Youtube. There was nothing visionary in his speech. His ordinary speech was like speeches of all politicians being delivered at public gatherings. To judge Imran's new political approach or vision, kindly visit Wikipedia and read profile of Masood Sharif Khattak, who recently joined PTI. We all know who is Mian Azhar, who is also a pillar of PTI now. We should never lose our rationality, and look at new political developments neutrally.
looks like a farce
If PTI and PTI fans have any respect left, they should go back to IK and ask why you put blames on Nawaz Sharif and his party members when you don't have proofs or even a deductible logic.
Nawaz Sharif is the only leader with experience, courage and wisdom to take this country out of these Probelms. Allah Bless you and protect you Nawaz...
@Mohammad Awais: Sir, you and others fail to understand that during Nawaz sb, Zardagi sb and Bhutto they have all failed to modernise Pakistan and obtain the respect of the establisnent. You may be a party member and have by that benefitted by favours etc and thats why you and other support feudal systems. You cannot blame our military who have keps focus on our nationL interest while mian sb and all other civilian king parties have shown that they arenwealthy and habe richer and richer. PakistN deserve to developed like any European country. How can you not support change I fail to undertand. Pak zindabad
what a great jalsa by patwaris.................................. nawaz sharif is the genius................................................................
Now torus coming with explaination that people who turned out were poor and uneducated and we are super cool. Shame on you people aint they Pakistanis?
@Khan: brother i want to recommend your comment 1million times, ofcource i can not...keep it up.
What is he going to do for the country? He can't even open the door of his car. Arrogance at its best, while claiming to be a revolutionary, and the savior of the poor.
Despite Mr. Sharif's best efforts, the flag-waving, the sloganeering appeared without passion and fire which PTI rally shown. The laid-back approach of 3 years have undone the Sharif brothers ' ability to mobilize & infuse energy into the fans. After today, PML-N should re-think of its strategy towards PTI & strive for a strategy alliance. The cos which they might have to bear in terms of accommodating PTI should not be the issue in the larger interest of PML-N & the country.
I am sick of PTI supporters and I have not yet seen them in Power. I don't know what will happen to them when they come to power.
Not all are affraid? those are careful about the back ends of khans?
He talked everything, but skipped the Raymond Davis incident oh-so-easily.
I think 50,000 to 100,000 patwaris are not there in whole punjab and all patwaris can not go to fasailabad for attending nawaz's Jalsa the same day. Blv in ground relealities plz...
what a good show of strength from "PLM(N)"
The Jalsa just finished, the live telecast in camera reflected several empty pockets, with people moving around leisurely instead of listening the speech. the final moments of Mr. Sharif's speech witnessed people started leaving the arena like in a losing cricket match............ Is PML-N really losing the game? please watch the clips and get the answer.
Talawat, Naat and Hangmay are the old fashion of PML (N).
Why PTI people are so conservative. Why those are not fighthing against PPP/ANP/MQM. Ohhh...... MQM is their allaince for the coming crown but in the deep sleeping! Have they forget all Karachi Cruels. PTI i just looking to wipe PML (N) from Punjab But it that is the Iron Ball. PTI ppl should try even with the help of back hands.......
A good and bulky Jalsaof PML(N). Congrate to nawaz and his team. Very Gug answer to Imran for his esatbalishment supported Jalsa of Lahore.
Why the all so called politicians are afraid of Imran Khan?? A man is afraid whenever he sees to lose something…
@ muhammad Owais What a pity !!! Sir can you please go and watch the clips of PTI Jalsa before your comments !!
The best PML-N advisers could do was to copy PTI style? PML-N has big following, but their performance Punjab government is poor (granted there is strong hindrance from PPP). If they don't resign, they will continue to be treated as Zardari's friendly opposition
From my sources in faisalabad, the PML N gathering is larger than gathering at Lahore by PML N but very less than PTI .... Where majority of the people are slums and poor, very few young and educated people !!
Why is it necessary for all the politicians to accuse others and call themselves the real people who are democratic and have given so many sacrifices for the people of Pakistan instead why dont they just focus on their own mandate for the next elections??Why do they themselves give so much importance to the establishment by talking about it in all the rallies and calling each other pro establishment???and above all why is it so important for all of us to abuse each other for not favouring the party we like because after all variety is the important ingredient of democracy?Why dont we have sportsman spirit and graciously accept our defeat after the election and not call the elections rigged if unable to win?I loved the sight of how graciously Bush handed over his power to Obama!How I wish this could happen in Pakistan too!!!!!!!
It was perfect show of strength by PML-N. No patwaris and government employees. Why we have forgot PML-N's rally for the restoration of judges. It is not an old event. And PML-N had not done anything bad that the people could hate it so early. Moreover, PTI's Lahore rally was engineered show. Even intervals in Imran Khan's speech and playing of music showed that it is an arranged show. Public gatherings are not music shows.
I am sick and tired of this whole IK is the future brigade... Change is not bringing on Imran or any new face at all. Since the inception of more precisely 1957, establishment role in the politics is our real ban. And at this point there is no one standing against them but Nawaz Sharif.
IK is not the future. IK is the harbinger of status-quo: Establishment deciding the course of country.
We need someone to stand up to these khakis/plain clothes. We need someone like Erdoganto make sure Army stays in barracks. And there is only one person who can do that. Nawaz is the Erdogan of Pakistan, or will be if our so calle educated youth starts thinking for a minute.
@Ahmad Fuad:
Isnt he Zia Ul Haqs adopted son?
@Kashif Iqbal: this is sponsored by our tax money, toll taxes, revenue taxes and all govt. employees....!!
even if they gather 400000 ppl, that wud be nothing compared with Imran's show of strength. I come from Faisalabad and assure the readers that Govt,s Machinery has been misused for bringing ppl to venue. It's no doubt' congregation of Patwaris and Gardawars.
Funny
..err, so where is the public?
Do a fair assessment of the crowd: take the total area of the meeting (use google earth) and divide it by 4.5 sq feet. I estimate crowd of 75,000-1,00,000 at most. Which is a good show but Imran Khan's rally had more people and they had more energy
Being in the Government, PML(N) has all the official resources at its disposal. Collecting a large no. of people will therefore be not much of a problem. So in no way it will be a genuine show of force.
PML(N) Disgrace.
Faisalabad is Manchester of Pakistan minus the gas, electricity, hospitals and universities, public transport system and lastly Fish n Chips.
First show of strength? So the one in Lahore on Oct. 28 was a 'try ball'?
Noonis following Khan's style. A Naat, Qaumi Taranaa and what not.
So who paid for all the flags and banners?
Well, I've seen that the PTI fans seldom talk logically. They are emotional. They 'assume' a lot of things. Imran has NOT done ANYTHING yet. Look at the Nawaz's services to the country... Imran Khan is pro-establishment. And can never become a threat for PML-N. However, PTI is threat for the country, for they will help PPP regain the power and loot the country yet again... Wish you all the BEST Mian sb....
Best of Luck, the real leader!
Just watched on a TV channel ( Aaj News) people attending the rally are mostly uneducated people gathered from slums and they even don't know why they are in the rally and which party's rally is it. Patwari convention was after all better Idea ten this one Mr Shareef :) they say in Urdu "kawa chala hans ki chaal aur apni chaal bhi bhool gaya"......
@Bhatti: And what about Mr. Imran Khan , Asli Ingalab wale? Why not he spend rallies money for betterment of the people?
This rally isn't sponsored by the Shukat Khanum money which we had been giving to Imran Khan from last many years.
Today's rally will be decisive in nature against the corrupt politicians sitting on central positions. At the same time it will be a slap on the face of establishment.
It seems the opponents are convinced of a huge gathering. NS has all the strength to throw the corrupt as well as the establishment's touts out of the political arena of the country.
Shame.. organizing rallies in punjab where u r in power. What a shame.
"The Hired Show" by PML-N ...... Lets see can money outrace the passion !!
Assemble all government employees, your roll call will be taken here and if you show no interest in your surrounding, your pay would be deducted. Khadim - e - Alla Punjab has worked so hard for himself, he needs to force you to come visit him!
Get a life Mian Brothers, use this money for the betterment of the people instead of rallies.. Aren't you brothers in Punjab govt. Power hungry, Huh!
A show of patwaris, teachers, education department's employees & distant villagers keen to see Faisalabad City free, on the Punjab Government arranged transport service is set, Lets see if they can beat or at least compete the enthusiastic mammoth rally of PTI in Lahore, may be Nawaz Sharif will need another check up after the comparison.
A conglomeration of Patwaris.