LAHORE:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will address the nation on Tuesday – 48 hours before Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) shepherd their respective ‘Inqilab’ and ‘Azadi’ marches into the federal capital. The announcement came as the government’s chief spokesperson claimed that a former spymaster was behind Imran Khan’s million-man march scheduled for August 14.
The premier’s decision to address the nation was taken at a consultative session of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the Sharif family residence of Jati Umra in Lahore on Monday. Premier Nawaz, who is also the president of PML-N, presided over the meeting.
Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif confirmed in a tweet on the microblogging site Twitter that the prime minister will address the nation at 8pm on Tuesday (today). A spokesperson for the ruling party also confirmed the scheduled address.
According to sources, senior party cadres suggested the prime minister take the nation into confidence over the hidden objectives of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, PTI chairman Imran Khan, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Government officials believe that all these politicians were in league in their conspiracy to overthrow the PML-N government.
During the session, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan suggested the government restrict PAT’s ‘revolution march’ to Model Town, where thousands of Qadri’s supporters have been already encamped after the party’s ‘martyrs day’ on Sunday.
Attendees at the consultative session included Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid and senior officials of law enforcement agencies, including Inspector General of Police in Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera.
According to sources, the interior ministry said in a report that Punjab might face a blowback of the North Waziristan operation by the end of this month. Since the entire police force of the province was focused on tackling the protest rallies of PAT and PTI, terrorists fleeing North Waziristan might take advantage and sneak into Punjab and seek shelter in urban centres, says the report.
The report recommends the ruling party order the arrest of Qadri in order to free up the police so that they could secure the province against any terrorist threat. IGP Sukhera didn’t agree to a PML-N proposal that Qadri should be allowed to lead his revolution march, though not without restrictions. Sources said the prime minister approved restricting Qadri and his supporters to Model Town, saying the PAT chief would not be allowed to lead his revolution march on August 14.
The ruling party has agreed to allow Imran to lead his supporters towards Islamabad. Nonetheless, the PML-N hopes that Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Sirajul Haq, who is mediating between the government and Imran, would ensure the PTI sit-in in Islamabad doesn’t last long.
After the PML-N consultative session, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal briefed the media about the decisions taken at the meeting. They said the meeting was briefed by senior officials of the law enforcement agencies on the measures taken for August 14.
Rashid claimed that a former spymaster was behind Imran’s Azadi march. However, he predicted that the Azadi march results wouldn’t be different from PTI’s performance in the 2013 elections for which Imran was trained by the spymaster. Without naming him, Rashid said the ex-spymaster was a reliable teacher of Imran and he [Imran] listened to him attentively.
Rashid said Imran was claiming to bring one million people to the federal capital on August 14. Islamabad, which has a population of 1.5 million, will be too small to accommodate another one million protesters, he added. “Imran would go to his palace at Bani Gala or to Serena Hotel, leaving his supporters on the roads,” he said and advised the PTI chief to arrange food and water for his one million marchers in advance.
Asked about the possibility of the army’s intervention, the minister said Imran and Qadri gave a wrong impression that the army would support them in dislodging the government. “Imran and Qadri are actually trying to defame the army,” he added.
For his part, Ahsan Iqbal said Qadri has given his supporters a ‘licence to kill’. “Such an insane person has a single-point agenda: to spread anarchy in society,” he added.
Today Premier Nawaz Sharif gave the nation his vision for 2025 which is an economic agenda, while Qadri and Imran were following an agenda of damaging the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2014.
COMMENTS (53)
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God bless the gentle giant
@Blithe: "She is referring to Altaf Hussein" Actually not only her but many if not most of the MQM supporters are victims of the Stockholm Syndrome complex.
@Ali: Neither IK or NS is right for you. Then who is?
Governments cannot and should not be changed due to mob or rallies. This is not democracy. Think about it; if 1 Million persons collect in Karachi and have the city closed for 5 days and demand independence, will the same be granted. Please be careful and debate the issues in Parliament and resolve the issues on table talk. This is what mature people do.
@Akalmand: But the Awam of Pakistan is captive to this monarchy. The "awam" are silent sufferers regardless of who rules them. Truly, the majority has never been actively supporting any leader since Liaquat Ali Khan. @vaqas: You are wrong Aysha M despises the rulers but can be careless with her terminology, as she tries to impress the readers.
Mian Nawaz Sharif in his TV address, should also tell all our brother and sister PMLN supporters the good news!! That our hero, Gullu Butt, has been released on bail!
@Blithe: You obviously do not know what is Stockholm Syndrome.
If a "former" spymaster can be so powerful as to topple your government then why are you irritating the "serving" spymasters with your ill advised moves?
I do not believe on Qadri, he is liar and a liar can not be religious leader, if Qadri want revolution he should leave religious position. for instances if his revolution succeeded one sect will be dominant on other sect and it will bring anarchy to the country. As well as concerned to join PTI with PAT is political suicide for PTI, because people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will reject Imran, even if he showed good performance in administration, because religion is more important for people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa than any thing else. . In my opinion in country like pakistan can not progress where people can die for religious leader and politician, if you ask them in the name of GOD them are not Willing to do it. Can some one answer me is this Islam in pakistan? In my own opinion there is not Islam in pakistan, we are nation of liars, when someone lie we do not care because our self we are doing the same act. Are we muslim?
@Shehzad: If there is no monarchy, on what basis is Maryam Sharif in charge of loan scheme? Did she apply for the job? Was she interviewed? Please tell us that as well.
@Malveros
In Latin, Malvero means "Untruth, Lies"
Nothing more needs to be said.
@vaqas: She is referring to Altaf Hussein ...
PMLN is allied with various sectarian outfits, and as such is indirectly responsible for thousands of terrorist attacks and deaths across Pakistan. Nawaz must go.
I can not believe how after 2 rules of PMLN and 2 rules of PPP, after bringing the whole country down to its knees while buying all sorts property abroad; there are still people who think NS is a good leader. How can you trust someone who says one thing before the elections and goes back to his promise (promise of treatment of Zardari comes to mind!). Unsurprisingly no PMLN supporter would refute me on that promise. (Still waiting)! Rs.1 million (PMLN figures not PTI's) is spent DAILY on the PM house! Rs.365 million per year!!! Is that justified? I do not know if the Azadi march would be a success or whether or not IK would be successful in achieving his objective. It may even be a complete bust. But I know this; he can not possibly do as much damage to the country which PMLN and PPP have already done. NS is going to address the nation now only after being scared of the march. And if people are still hopeful for this rule, then sorry to say you people are just ignorant. You people are afraid of change and would prefer to play the victims in the case of a corrupt rule than to progress. You would prefer putting more money in these peoples' swiss bank accounts than see your nation progress. Sorry for the harsh words but unfortunately its the truth.Its all a matter of priorities. Would you prefer a new road and bridge over loadshedding? IK may have not done EVERYTHING he promised in the first year in power but is waaaay more than what PMLN has done this year and has prioritised the correct issues.
@Misapplication: As akalmand correctly implies. AyeshaM is referring to herself with regards to the stockholm syndrome. It is the nation that is being held hostage by the corrupt rulers. Im amazed that you have difficulty understanding this.
All my prayers for respected Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Any government if it is confident in its performance will never be bothered about any march / dharna etc. The reason PMLN is going through all this drama to stop people from protesting is basically to hide its failures.
Its time for Nawaz to Go Saudi once more, as he tried to finish our Army "The only institute which is safeguarding our country".
PML (n) all the way.
Imran Khan is always busy in using dirty language against others. I have never listened any wrong word from the mouth of Nawaz Sharif. No hope from politics of agitation of PTI. All hopes from PML-N.
Not saying that that IK is right, but how people can support Nawaz Sharif is beyond me...
I want to tell the haters that there is no monarchy in Pakistan. PML-N was elected because Pakistani public voted for it. PML-N respected PTI mandate in KPK but PTI had no sportsman spirit. PTI is a group of losers and are looking towards other losers to disturb law and order of Pakistan. PTI and Qadri are introducing violence in politics.
I am not a fan of PMLN, but I believe that they deserve to complete five years. The rigging in elections or corruption etc are not that massive that a government should be pulled down for this. IK is just weakening a democratic Government and empowering the "deep state".
@H. Khan: What Parliament? There is no real parliament left. Every single re-counting has shown massive rigging. If the seats were rigged. That means the people in parliament did not actually win. And the people who actually won the election are out side the parliament. Do you get my point?
Pakistan is following model of Egypt which will be worst thing to follow on earth and to be honest I have dealt with Egyptians they seem to be worst in terms of humanity in the world, see what they do in football matches army had to control them even in football matches. Please don't let anarchy prevail in our beloved country.
This nation is dumb n illiterate. Who can deny the fact "Rulers appointed among the NATION" blame yourself and make some wise judgement to save the humanity later on think about political sects.
@Aysha M: Nope, not for this tormentor!
Some salient achievements of NS worth sharing with the Nation in today's address on this auspicious occasion:
Electricity prices almost doubled No end to load shedding in sight Food prices sky rocketing Unemployment is at its all time high All family members are now fully employed and getting more and more prosperous day by day Birth right to rule for 05 years with no link to performance No one has right to protest except NS and party Use all the might to crush opponents including through administrative means, judiciary and media outlets.
And more goodies on the way including including further increase in Electricity and Gas Prices - wait till the long march fizzles out
His name should be put on the ECL as soon as possible.
@Truth Detector: Well said!
He never addressed the nation, even in the most dire situations and now when he is gonna fall down he is addressing and requesting the common man. What a shameful person, and those who are still supporting him are even more shameless, they just dont care about Pakistan, all they need is that their ego's is well fed.
@i4shad you tend to forget the march made by PMLN themselves at the time when they wanted the CJ to be reinstated. Wasnt it bullying then? Its amazing how short term PMLN supporters' memories are. You guys criticise things which you have been doing yourselves all along! Don't you think all this could have been avoided if the government had just accepted the proposal of the audit of the elections? That should not have been a problem since PMLN 'did nothing wrong' right??
Nation will listen IK address at 10 PM tonight.
Here we go. Get ready to listen to some typo 'stats' regarding economy, according to which the country will be on track to compete German and Japanese economies within one year, and to export electricity in the next four years.
Finally, we get to hear the absent member of Parliament.
@H. Khan: The demand is for free and fair elections, not independence, not some unworldly demand. The government is not willing to hold electoral reforms and hence must be changed, its an undemocratic, autocratic government that came into power through rigging.
"Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif confirmed in a tweet on the microblogging site Twitter that the prime minister will address the nation at 8pm on Tuesday (today)."
TRANSLATION
" Princess confirmed that King will address the nation"
Anyone who still thinks it is a democracy , needs an immediate head examination.
OMG! Finally, the govt is taking IK parade seriously, looks like it! I wish they had seen the reality earlier and saved them self and general public valuable time & headache. God knows what is implied & what is real planning. What is psychological warfare and what is real public protection. As a mater of fact; I just don't trust PMLN after the election fraud they were involved in.
It is high time now for IK and TUQ to pack their bags and be kicked out of the country.
@SR: So from now on all issues in Pakistan will be decided by marches and bullying...thats a step in the right direction NOT... wake up before it's too late
@Aysha M: Stockholm syndrome does not apply here. If you still do think so, illustrate! Neither, the Government nor the leaders of the impending rallies are captive. Stockholm syndrome is the sympathy/empathy that the captives acquire of the captors.
People who are participating in long march are already on streets so what advantage he will get in addressing the public who are sitting in their drawing rooms waiting for this drama to end, so its too late for PM to address at this moment in time..........what he can do now is to resign and apologize people of Pakistan on failing 3rd time. If he does that than Qadri and IK will stop the march and anarchy situation can be prevented.
Lol all these paid PMLN trolls think that NS will survive. You all are imbecile and ignoramus. This azadi march would be the last nail in the coffin of sharif brothers. Rust in peace mian sahib :) and you trolls find a real job.
He never addresses the nation, now take a look at his scared face. He talks to a common man, does he?
We all know that. They never listen to the common man. Jinnah would have fired these kind of people if he would have been alive.
What parliament brother? The parliament is full of theives, illiterate and corrupt people who have their own agenda. The agenda which is YES SIR AMERICA....
Parliament is trash......Elections are trash......This democracy is full of trash ......because it is corrupt in nature.........
When people stand up for their rights, only then they get it.
Governments cannot and should not be changed due to mob or rallies.This is not democracy. Think about it; if 1 Million persons collect in Karachi and have the city closed for 5 days and demand independence,will the same be granted.Please be careful and debate the issues in Parliment and resolve the issues on table talk.This is what mature people do.
To late to address to nation,you stole the election spending money Sir it is time you to pack your bage's and move away from pakistan,next is zardari if you smart You should lear from now and go away from pakistan,stop kissing usa and uae.
Awww I stand with my PM, stockholm syndrome kicking in,