The PML-N chief asked the people to use their vote to bring change in the country. PHOTO: FILE
HYDERABAD/ LAHORE:
Hitting out at Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s chief has said that only the Constitution provides the methodology to remove an incompetent ruler and not a sit-in or “pressure tactics”.
Nawaz Sharif was scheduled to visit Badin on Thursday and address a public gathering on the occasion of Fazil Raho’s death anniversary, but cancelled his trip due to bad weather and held a telephonic address instead.
The PML-N chief asked the people to use their vote to bring change in the country. “I assure you that the power your vote has, no long march or sit-in can match it.”
He said, “It is only through your vote that you can bring change for prosperity, to strengthen the country’s borders, end terrorism, improve education, and get land reforms and put Sindh and Pakistan on a path to progress”.
In his address, he said that those who cannot win elections were afraid of the power of votes and wanted to rule without serving. In an apparent reference to Minhaj-ul-Quran International’s (MQI) leader Dr Qadri, he said certain elements wanted to bring change, not through votes but through sit-ins.
“We struggled for the right of vote during difficult times, in jails and in exiles. What type of a leader sits in a safe, comfortable and bulletproof container while innocent children, weak women and the elderly sit on the roads in cold nights?”
The PML-N leader said that if such a person really felt the pain of people, he should announce that he himself would also spend nights on the cold road, or he should take pity and let people go home.
Nawaz called upon the nation to utilise its right to vote and begin an era of change, prosperity, peace, progress, medical care, education and employment by getting rid of incompetent rulers.
He said that the PML-N had always urged the nation to follow the Constitution because only the Constitution had the methodology to bring about a change through holding elections.
There was no need of a long march, Nawaz said, because the mandate of the present government of five years would end in the middle of March and people could elect new leaders as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He asked people to get rid of failed rulers and not mistake the failure of the government to deliver with the failure of the democratic dispensation.
“There are only eight weeks to go before this corrupt and inept government ends. We should all hope for a better future and a better government after the next elections.”
Condolences
Meanhwile, President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned Nawaz on Thursday evening and condoled with him over the death of his brother Abbas Sharif. The president said that he would also visit Raiwind to personally offer condolences.
According to Nawaz’s political secretary Dr Asif Kirmani, the conversation between the president and PML-N chief was purely based on condolence and they did not discuss the political situation of the country.
According to sources, Zardari will visit Nawaz’s residence before the next session of the National Assembly and Senate scheduled for January 21.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (15)
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My vote iz for u PML(N)
Nawaz Sharif, if my memory serves me correctly a significant period of your exile was served in Saudi palaces and Park Lane, London. I don't think they do hair implants in Pakistani jails.
same old rhetoric...nothing will change with these faces lurking around the pakistani parliment house!
What change same old faces and families with same old agenda how to undermine provinces and people who did not vote for these parties, how much looting me, my family and freinds can carry out while in Power. A real change will be when the Rajs's, the Tiwana's, the Bhuttos's, the Jotoi's, the Khattacks and the Magsi's are voted out by the people. The real change will be when you and leaders like you understand that they have harmed Pakistan more by hanging on to Power and say that their has to be some one from the 160 million people who is better than you and the current dead woods to run the country. Only when you realize that your policies and practices have to change will bring about the change in the country. The most recent expample of your interest in the country and its soveringty was in front of all of us when you and the political parties failed to support the armed forces in Kashmir where in India every political party came to defend their country. You, your family and friends were probably to busy finalizing how to loot the country if and when you get into power. I hope that day never comes.
@Hassaan: you are right, i dont but at least you understand your politics and you still believe that the coming elections will bring GIANTS (not the turn takers) into power. For how long we the people will be put to experiments by the old and the new political surgeons? Brother i only found the term "taking turn" derogatory for myself. Others can be their own judges.
@omer: Brilliant comment Sir.
@watchtower: Only if you could understand our politics. I meant that he deserves at least a chance now. No family limited parties anymore.
@Hassaan: "Its IK,s turn this time" Is this my country or a merry go round in children park that everyone will take his turn?
Not with your rigged way of voting ..
Plus yes change thru a vote should happen but not thru voting you its Imran khans turn now inshaAllah
Vote PTI
Hassaan Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“It is only through your vote that you can bring change" This is true but the losers who have never won during any election and know they cannot win do not believe in elections. I for one want to bring on record that any party or coalition which wins the next elections would have my support and respect. If we want to move forward we have to accept the verdict of people. Insulting the voters and rural heartland of Pakistan is not going to help anybody and would not win many votes to urban elites.
Nawaz Sharif is a poor loser. His statement are "sour grapes" of what he himself could not do from his Takht in Raiwind.
EXACTLY, only votes will bring change. Oops, but here is the problem, not you Mian Sahab, inshallah it's IK turn now.
“We struggled for the right of vote during difficult times, in jails and in exiles. What type of a leader sits in a safe, comfortable and bulletproof container while innocent children, weak women and the elderly sit on the roads in cold nights?”
What type of leadership sits in Red Zone protected by the police and rangers while poor citizens of Pakistan are dying everyday from terrorism, target killings and inflation?
When you have a rigged election commission, voting will only bring corrupt people back.