Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Saturday called upon the nation to challenge the prevailing political circumstances in order to bring about a change in the situation. Expressing deep concerns over the breach of country's sovereignty by the US, the PML-N chief urged the nation to "revolt" in order to improve the situation.
"We would have to assert ourselves to safeguard the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the country," Nawaz said while addressing a gathering here at Aiwan-e-Iqbal to mark May 28th as Youm-e-Takbeer, when Pakistan carried out nuclear tests during his tenure as Prime Minister in 1998. "I will be part of the people if they rise up to challenge the status quo," he said.
Referring to the resolution passed by the Parliament in the aftermath of the Abbottabad incident, Nawaz said the resolution had now become a challenge for political leadership, as the nation was asking for its implementation. The Prime Minister must take the nation into confidence on steps taken so far to implement the resolution, he added.
According to him, nobody should be allowed to make mockery of the parliamentary resolution. While deploring the government's stance of declaring Abbotabad incident a great victory, the PML-N chief said his party would be at the front-foot to pressurise the government to implement the resolution. The PML-N leader maintained that Pakistan was in dire need of revolutionary measures to get back the lost respect among the comity of nations. "We have to rebel against the status quo to get back our lost status and dignity," he said, adding: "The PML-N would play its due role in this regard."
The PML-N leader said: "Some 13 years ago the historic day of May 28th made Pakistanis a proud nation. However, the ongoing humiliation out of Abbotabad and Mehran Base attacks has depressed the nation. These two incidents have injured our body and soul as a nation," he deplored.
Pakistan was enjoying support of half of the world when it conducted nuclear tests. "But we are left alone today," he said. He said fingers are pointed at Pakistan whenever a terrorist activity takes place anywhere in the world. "We have not only become a laughing stock for others but it is ironical that we haven't learnt from the past."
The PML-N leader further said: "We conducted nuclear tests ignoring pressure from the world. The prime ministers of Japan, Canada and other countries contacted me and the US government offered an economic package but I did not compromise the national integrity." He said he ordered nuclear tests despite all the odd circumstances, of threats and opposition from around the world.
Nawaz also expressed concern over the rampant corruption and loadshedding in the country, saying that Pak rupee was stronger than India at the time of the country's nuclear tests, leaning down badly today. No steps have been taken to overcome loadshedding while industry is being closed down due to power crisis. He asked the PPP-led government stop plundering in the name of democracy. He also mentioned the involvement of Makhdoom Amin Fahim into corruption scandal and said many other ministers have minted money and transferred it to the accounts of their sons and daughters. The PML-N would launch a mass campaign to check corruption, leading to an across the board accountability in the country. The corrupt attitude of sitting rulers is not acceptable, he warned.
He asked the public to support the PML-N for across the board accountability and punishment of corrupt ones. He also demanded inquiries into Abbotabad and Mehran incidents. Referring to Musharraf era, he said "He arrested judges when after failing to win their loyalties," Nawaz said.
According to him, traitors among Judiciary sided with dictators and provided them opportunities to tamper with the Constitution. He stressed the supremacy of law to root out terrorism, as easy access to justice and equal opportunities to the people must be a pre-requisite of peace and tranquility. He asked the people to learn to live without foreign aid to achieve self-reliance.
While terming democracy as the best way of accountability, he regretted that it has been blocked time and again in Pakistan. "Democracy and accountability are correlative and the countries with strong democracy and accountability system develop and prosper. The countries lacking democracy and accountability are marred by regression," he said.
According to him, the corrupt ones have been destroying democracy in the country. Nawaz said that he was going to resolve Kashmir issue in 1999, but his government was usurped. He also criticised military regimes for manipulating the country's judiciary and mistreating judges in case of unfavourable verdicts.
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