After Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PM-N) swept the recent by-polls in Punjab, triumphant party chief Nawaz Sharif declared on Friday that the results provided a glimpse before the 2013 polls of a ‘clean sweep’ for PML-N.
Nawaz was addressing a public gathering in Vehari’s sub-district, the latest in a spate of rallies which indicate the party has started its election campaign in earnest.
Continuing his onslaught against the government, the PML-N president said that a country must have “the courage to accept the failure of its government”. He added that while the country’s debt was “the worst in its history,” people seemed to be apathetic about this.
Nawaz pointed out the state of the railways, Pakistan International Airlines, Sindh, and Khyber-Pakthunkhwa. “Pakistan is burning, but the government is either busy making money or political statements,” he declared.
He accused the government of using the agriculture sector as a tool to increase inflation in Pakistan without check.
Referring to neighbouring India, the PML-N chief said Pakistan should not be a rival to the country but rather a healthy competitor in terms of progress, prosperity and economic development.
Nawaz did not forget to give a special mention to his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, lauding him for ‘maintaining law and order in Punjab’.
According to media estimates, more than 20,000 people came to attend the gathering from South Punjab. Some delegations also arrived from interior Sindh, under the leadership of PML-N Sindh president Ghous Ali Shah. It was also attended by several prominent party leaders from South Punjab, including Tehmina Daultana, Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Rana Mehmoodul Hasan and Saeed Ahmed Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (36)
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Only PTI
Inshallah
Yes go vote for Punjab Muslim league, a spineless regional party who does not have courage to face extremist or take diffcult decisions. This party has shrunk, Punjab is budnaam due to leaders like NS and parties like PML(N).
He is good for Punjab probabaly beacuse he has become master of icing and not the cake, but bad for Pakistan.
Vote for PML N is Vote for Pakistan. Qadam barhao Nawaz Shareef, Pakistan tumharay saath hai. Insha-Allah!
Seriously PTI is a group of immature kids, they are doing opposition on the opposition (PMLN) and expect others to follow their foolish thinking. Imran khan is an immature arrogant westernized clown, he will never get the confidence of the people of pakistan. Nawaz sharif lives in the heart of common man of pakistan, he lives like a pakistan totally different than arrogant clown imran khan following westernized lifestyle with his dogs in banigalla.
Despite all thier exposed character and dishonest intentions, i am affraid they can still win the elections. Unlike the recent Punjab by-polls, I hope ppl use their minds while casting their votes......
Sir you are responsible for 60% of the current state of affairs. You get 60% of the budget after 18th amendment so don't kid around.
Only fools will vote for a party that hasn't delivered in 6 terms of power in Punjab. You guys were doing great in Saroor Palace, Pakistan was on its way to success but then someone returned :(
I hope for a clean sweep of your party ;)
@Majid: We need strong state institutions. State should be honest and capable of doing business not just making reforms and privatizing state institutions. This way Z.Ali Bhutto also did alot of eforms and nationalised all the institutions but did it make Pakistan a better place? Certainly not. We need Imran Khan not because he has some magic wand but bcz he has a vision and he is capable of deliviring. He is a man of Ambition!
Sir you are responsible for 60% of the current state of affairs. You get 60% of the budget after 18th amendment so don't kid around.
Only fools will vote for a party that hasn't delivered in 6 terms of power in Punjab. You guys were doing great in Saroor Palace, Pakistan was on its way to success but then someone returned :(
@Gujranwala789: Who will hunt Nawaz Sharif? Who will check his parties corruption? We need Imran Khan who is honest and clean. He has no corruption cases and he loves Pakistan from the bottom of his heart. Unlike the people who claim to love Pakistan but what they really Love is power.
@Usman Khan: all of us want to see a better pakistan. We cannot let the people,PMLN, PPP, who have ruled us before to rule us again. We need change. We need Imran Khan.
The days you swept by "engineered" two third majority are over! The days when you had support from other 12 parties are over! The days you converted you moved from Punjab CM to Pakistan PM are over! The days of Gen Gillani and Zia are over! The days you deceived people in the name of democracy are over with half of the family and in laws running the democratic party!
Welcome to reality!
@Ch. Allah Daad: NO !
Yepiee if PML-N wins we will all get free stuff from bakeries just like when the won the regional elections recently. Seriously good luck to Pakistan and those who want to bring this lot into power. Zardari is more politically mature than Nawaz would any one vote for him again?
He must be kidding himself
PML-n doing good job in punjab... deserve vote
Lol this guy is a joke!! He reminds me of the cartoon character freddie flinstone! Lol
@The Khan: There's more to punjab than lahore. If these clowns come to power then pakistan will be the laughing stock of the world. And you that suffer deserve every bit of it.
@The Khan: After i saw Lahore and its developments, i was convinced that CM Shahbaz Sharif can only do good for Pak.
That's the problem. Punjab is more than just Lahore. Your comment reminded me of an old statement that "I could smell jute from the roads of Islamabad". What we ended up with... Now go figure!
@Gujranwala789: Supporting a corrupt regime for 5 years is a sign of statesmanship ...WOW...wakeup man support your country ,vote for PTI
Yes after supporting the corrupt regime & taking the credit for Mr.Zardari's stay in power for 5 years Mr.Sharif expects that people will vote for him again so that he can again support some other corrupt leader bring more curse for the people of Pakistan...dream on ..dream on...PTI will win InshaAllah the upcoming elections !!!
For a real change and build a new Pakistan, we must vote for PML(N).
@Sumi, this is not true. When given a chance in the 1990s to govern Pakistan, PMLN more than delivered on all fronts. Major reforms took place in the banking sector, taxation, foreign exchange regulations, the telecom sector, import and export, aviation industry and other segments of business saw unprecedented growth. There was a major thrust on privatisation and deregulation. As a result of this, the economy boomed with a GDP growth of eight per cent in 1992 — the highest for any civilian government since independence. Although taxes were lowered for all segments, including the corporate sector, by 1999, Pakistan had achieved a tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.4 per cent, which has now fallen to just nine per cent and is a major stumbling block towards investment in social sectors as well as infrastructure projects. On the foreign relations front, major policy initiatives were undertaken, including the peace process with India, culminating in Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan in February 1999 and the signing of the Lahore Declaration. If the Kargil adventure had not taken place, the Lahore Declaration would have enabled Pakistan and India to forge closer trade and economic relationships with millions on both sides of the border benefiting from the economic boom.
By Election was jus a trailer, Film Abhi Baki hai... :) Haters go take cold shower....
Nawaz sharif is the most mature statesman, we need him to govern pakistan sooner rather than later. Nawaz sharif´s lion is coming to hunt all corrupt politicians and corrupt former cricketers.
Pakistanis should be happy that the next two main contenders are PML-N and PTI both which are relatively clean parties. After i saw Lahore and its developments, i was convinced that CM Shahbaz Sharif can only do good for Pak.
@Usman Khan: Sorry its too late to vote nawaz shairf, 25 years is more then enough to change the system. we need new leadership no matter what.
IK will be writing his version of 'Letters from Iwo Jima'
Mian sb ex-PML Q (current PML N) used to win every by-election before 2008 election.
There is saying of a statesmen:
“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”
The clean sweep is probable only in Punjab especially after the Kalabagh Dam decision by LHC to help him out. Sharifs need help from ISI or the judiciary and they mostly get it this is their history even the SC has proved that. However, the PML-N would shrink further in the other porvinces.
Clean sweep only in the vicinity of raiwand mehal.
LoL@clean sweep. Mian sb jaan diyo. Clean sweep across Pakistan or Raiwind? Sitting in the government, giving shoulder to PPP throughout this tenure (which you have recently proudly admitted) and at the same time continued onslaught against it? Why should I take you serious and which one of the two things above should I believe in?
God Willing PMLN will win next elections, do not waste your vote to PPP/PMLQ or PTI...
We need experienced, mature political party to take Pakistan forward over the next sensitive 5 years...
We can't afford another hung parliament...
Vote for PMLN is vote for Pakistan....
Someone is using Imran Khan's words!! Someone is copying Imran Khan!!
Dream on Zia Jr.