Security drawdown: PML-N accuses ECP of double standards

Spokesman says ‘low-profile’ politicians provided extra security.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesman Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said the directive of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withdraw what it called the ‘extraordinary’ security cover for Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif was unjustified.

“Given the prevailing security situation of the country, the level of security that the Sharifs need cannot be overstated,” the senator said.

He added that Nawaz and Shahbaz were not only former PM and CM respectively, but were also leaders of the country’s largest political party.

It is, therefore, the state’s responsibility to protect them, Rashid said.

“The fact that the PML-N president had escaped an assassination attempt in the past further highlights the need for proper security.” The senator said that on one hand the government was extending extraordinary security to even low-profile politicians throughout the country, while on the other the ECP had shown a double standard towards the PML-N leadership.

“The ECP, President Zardari and the caretaker PM shall be held responsible if any untoward incident occurs because of the security cut,” he warned.

Shahbaz highlights PML-N policies

Former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif said that those who tried to belittle the PML-N by terming it the favourite party of traders and businessmen need to change their thinking, as trading was a noble profession and businessmen loved Nawaz Sharif for his prudent political and economic policies.

“They know that Nawaz Sharif had not only made the country’s defence impregnable by conducting nuclear tests but he had also brought about progress and prosperity through his business-friendly policies,” he told different delegations at Raiwind.

At that time, he added, the Indian finance minister had also asked his finance experts to adopt Pakistan’s economic policy as a role model.

“The PML-N is the only political party in the country that is liked and admired equally by all sections of society, including government employees, farmers, lawyers, women and students.” Claiming that the Laptop Distribution Scheme had brought a revolution in the lives of youth, he asked the youngsters not to vote for the opponents of this project.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2013.