File photo of Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
A statement from Sharif's office said he had ordered the National Bank of Pakistan and the National Highway and Motorway Police to explain why they took out full-colour adverts praising the new premier.
"The prime minister acknowledges and values the love, affection of the nation and emotions of his supporters and urges them to concentrate on nation's building rather than sending congratulatory messages to him," the statement released Friday said.
Public life in Pakistan is beset by corruption and cronyism, and many saw the adverts, which appeared in English and Urdu papers, as an effort to curry favour with the new leader.
Sharif, who won an unprecedented third term in office in the May 11 general election, pledged to tackle graft in his first speech as PM on Thursday, saying "the doors for favouritism and corruption are closed from today onwards".
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thanks Imran Khan..............this is your CHANGE!
Good move. But “the doors for favouritism and corruption are closed from today onwards”? What about the favoritism your family and relatives got for key posts?
Both, National bank and National highway have some fishy deals under the carpet. Let there be investigation of the heads of these institutions and their appointment and you will why the advertisements were placed in papers.
Well done sir. I am a Karachiite and for many years have been anti-PMLN. Now that they've come into power and are showing so much political maturity, I have had to change my opinions.
Giving power to actual Baloch middle class representative was a great move. So was going forward with metro bus project of Karachi. I have to admit I am very impressed by Mian saab's tone and I hope he continues to respect the freedom of media and opinion that is now developing in Pakistan. After all, criticism brings improvement.
I would also request Mian Saab to implement a local government system all over Pakistan. Big cities like Lahore and Karachi should have their own police like the big cities all over the world, namely NYPD in NYC or London Met in London or LAPD in LA. Locals can solve policing issues much more effectively than the provincial or state governments. I would recommend doing away with quota system in bureaucracy and giving an equal and fair chance to every Pakistani. Right now Karachi's share is not even 4% with a population of well over 10%, if not 15%.
Thank you for showing maturity & best of luck for the future!