Democracy: Nawaz Sharif hits out at military:
Addressing a Christmas ceremony at a church in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif asserted that the days of taking ‘extra-constitutional steps’ are long gone. The nation will now support rule of law and democracy instead of any dictator, he said.
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief went after the military with all guns blazing on Thursday, blaming the current situation of the country on “the generals”.
Addressing a Christmas ceremony at a church in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif asserted that the days of taking ‘extra-constitutional steps’ are long gone. The nation will now support rule of law and democracy instead of any dictator, he said.
“Each and every person living in Pakistan is bound to follow the constitution and no one is above the law. If someone thinks they are supreme to the law, they are living in a fool’s paradise,” he added.
Nawaz said that military dictators had overthrown prime ministers, hanged people and sent some on exile, and none of them cared about the alarming situation of the country’s economy.
He added that it was “pathetic” that none of the generals have been held accountable. He also asked an ‘absconding general’ whether he felt any shame.
The PML-N chief further said his party mended the relationship between Pakistan and India, and both nations were headed towards progress. Unfortunately, he added, a dictator sabotaged that process and brought the country back to square one.
Nawaz also pointed out that a civilian government is going to complete its five-year tenure without military intervention for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
He further said that the upcoming elections would be an ‘accountability day’, during which the nation would make a choice between who works hard for the county and those who loot the nation’s money.
Speaking on the issue of minorities, Nawaz said there should not be any distinction between ‘majority’ and ‘minority’ as each citizen of the country has equal rights.
Meanwhile, former president of the Tehreek-e-Insaf UK chapter Rabia Zia announced to join the PML-N during a meeting with the party chief.
Separately, head of the Mahar family of Sindh Ali Gohar Mahar met Nawaz in Raiwind on Thursday, where he is said to have asked the party chief for his daughter’s hand in marriage for his son. Although the Mahar family recently announced to join the Pakistan Peoples Party, sources have said that they are reconsidering their initial choice and have been approaching the PML-N in this regard.
