Months of turmoil, uncertainty feared: Nawaz comes down heavily on Zardari

[Naveed Yaseen]

MUHAMMAD SALEEM & HAMID WALEED
LAHORE (March 07 2009): While piling up criticism against President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Friday vowed to lead the long march. Besides, he also announced kicking off street agitation shortly for what he described the rights of people.

Addressing a mammoth public rally on The Mall Road, Nawaz said categorically that the Supreme Court verdict against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was as wrong as his disqualification verdict. He further lamented President Zardaris government for being represented by the same advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri who had lodged an FIR against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, leading to his hanging. Nawaz Sharif also termed the rally a public referendum against the "PCO judges".

Both the Sharifs strongly criticised President Asif Ali Zardari for what they said backstabbing and said his approach was vastly different from that of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Independent estimates suggest that hundreds and thousands of PML-N workers took out impressive rally from Neela Gunbad to Punjab Assembly. They were carrying flags, banners, posters and stickers of Nawaz Sharif. A good number of women party workers were also active. Besides, a large number of youngsters, traders and native Lahorites remained on roads throughout the speech of both Sharifs.

Also, a large number of party workers from Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara and other areas adjacent to Lahore also participated in a large number. Some PML-N leaders had also brought caged lions.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif charged the sentiments of workers before the arrival of Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif mentioned at the outset of his speech that the passion on the part of workers has impressed him immensely and he would like to address them throughout the following night.

He told his audience that he was willing to lead the rally from Neela Gunbad but he could not reach Neela Gunbad because of his meeting with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Asfandyar Wali Khan in the afternoon.

However, he avoided commenting on his meeting with both political magnates. However, he expressed the hope that there would be no need of long march and the public would achieve its longstanding dream of restoration of judiciary.

He expressed the hope that the days are not far away when the public miseries would come to an end and they would be prosperous, as the founding fathers of the nation had dreamt of in 1947.

He appreciated the party workers for holding a successful rally and said he was told that the number of rally participants was running into lakhs. He kept on criticising President Zardari for backing out of his commitment to restore judges. However, he assured the workers that he would not abandon struggle for restoration of judges. He hoped that the nation would also stand along with him against any folly committed by the rulers on this front.

He said he was not interested in joining the Cabinet and all his demands were meant for public welfare by ensuring a prosperous society. He said the country was already passing through countless problems and the President has added salt to the injury by imposing Governors Rule. "No one is safe and secure in the country and the family members remain worried about their sons and husbands until they return home."

"Shahbaz was working hard in Punjab and he was burning midnight oil to eradicate poverty and unemployment from the province," he said, adding: "He would admit that he could not perform during his tenure as Chief Minister equal to Shahbaz Sharif."

He said he has made clear to Asfandyar Wali that he was pursuing the national interest and wanted to turn Pakistan into a peaceful country. He said he would revolt against the Governors Rule and bring the provincial setup back on track by putting Shahbaz Sharif as its chief minister.

He said he would not tolerate any conspiracy against democracy and he would not let his struggle of last eight years lost in any case. He also thanked traders for observing a shutterdown strike to express their solidarity with him. He urged the workers to stand up and be ready for long march.

Earlier, addressing the rally, PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif advised President Zardari stop mocking people. "The nation would not forgive the sins of Zardari," he said while urging him to witness the mood of public rally.

"You are the outcome of NRO," Shahbaz yelled, followed by a strong nod from the rally participants. He said the PML-N has never committed any fraud and instead focused on national service. He said President Zardari backstabbed Nawaz Sharif after declaring him as his elder brother.

The nation would never forgive you, he warned. He said President Zardari has lost the public confidence and no one was ready to trust him any further. He also called Rehman Malik as IG of liars and added that he had grabbed Rs 500 million from the exchequer. He said the PML-N would recover this amount and spend it on public welfare projects.

Shahbaz also criticised President Zardari for his double standards. "I respect Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Asfandyar Wali but the government was negotiating on the one hand while turning the Governor House into a market for horse trading on the other.

The government has offered lifting of Governors Rule, which is not acceptable to the PML-N unless the government fulfils its commitments made with the nation. He said Nawaz was struggling for the countrys future and bringing it in line with the vision of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam. "Had we have any lust for power, we could have compromised on Dogra Raj but we refused on the basis of principles," he said.

Shahbaz also criticised Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer for his negligence in providing security to the Sri Lankan cricket team, resulting into injuries to the players besides deaths of six policemen. Shahbaz also criticised PCO judges and said they had caused great harm to the country as well as countrymen.

"There will be a long march to get rid of fraud judges while there will be a quick march of Asif Ali Zardari," he said. He asked President Zardari to see this gathering which is the biggest rally in the history of Lahore. He said the time is not far when PCO judges will go home and deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will be restored. "We put a clamp down on dacoits and thieves in the province and provided Roti for Rs 2," he pointed out. He also highlighted the initiatives taken by the PML-N government in Punjab such as provision of free medicines, free dialysis of needy patients and allocation of huge funds for education of needy students.

Shahbaz also paid gratitude to the police and administration for not obeying wrong orders. Earlier, the PML-N rally was taken out from Neela Gunbad amid full-throated slogans of hundreds of thousands of PML-N activists in favour of Sharif brothers and against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The rally was planned to be taken out at 2pm but it started from Neela Gunbad at about 5.40pm. The PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz led the rally from Neela Gunbad along with Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sheikh Rohail Asgher, Malik Riaz and Dr Asad Ashraf.

The PML-N top brass including Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif reached the main stage of the rally instead of joining it. Nawaz Sharif said in his speech that he also wanted to join the rally along with PML-N activists but could not make it due to meeting with Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazl ur Rehman.

The police and PML-N Youth Wing had adopted elaborate arrangements for the security of participants of the rally. Policemen were deployed on the rooftop of different buildings. Different camps were set up on the route of the rally. The main stage was bullet proof while Shahbaz Sharif left the venue after his speech. Nawaz Sharif joined the rally amid thunderous applause and full-throated slogans.

The PML-N legislators reached the venue in processions. The PML-N Youth Wing President Ghulam Hussein Shahid told Business Recorder that Fridays rally is a referendum against usurpers and time is not far when people will get their rights.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=1129