Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday declared that if voted to power in the upcoming elections his government would restore deposed judges by maintaining the status of judiciary as it was on November 2, 2007.
Addressing party workers convention at the hujra of former NWFP chief minister and president of PML-N Pir Sabir Shah at Srikot in Haripur District, the former premier said, independent judiciary and free media was a must for vibrant democracy in the country and the PML-N with this end in view has decided to participate in the polls.
"Election 2008 is referendum against forces supporting anti democratic forces in the country", he said, adding, the PML-N would give a crushing defeat to all such elements in the coming polls provided polls were not rigged.
The PML-N chief accused the previous government for tragic Jamia Hafsa incident which claimed hundred of lives, killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti and the unrest in some settled districts of the frontier province.
He stressed that such incidents occur in the country when there is no democratically elected government, therefore, he maintained that it is high time to pull the country out of the quagmire before it was too late. He also urged the moderate forces to join hands against the enemies of democracy.
Mian Nawaz Sharif while describing the growing incidents of suicide attacks in the country as gift of the previous regime, said, if his party was elected in majority, he would review the policies to put an end to the bloodbath of the innocent people.
He castigated the elements for taking credit over the projects initiated by him during his two stints and said gigantic projects like Motorways and Gwadar Port were started during his government reign.
Speaking on the occasion, the PML-N Chief Pir Sabir Shah expressed the confidence that the PML-N would sweep the elections in the NWFP due to its previous record. He said, PML-N was united and firm under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and there was no differences in its ranks. He said, 'Q' league would vanish in the days to come, as it could not withstand the wind started blowing after the arrival of Sharif brothers.
Earlier Mian Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the Party in which party tickets were awarded to aspirants for contesting the general elections 2008. PML-N ticket for NA-29 Swat was awarded to Riaz Ahmed Khan, while NA-30 ticket went to Muhammad Riaz. Former NWFP chief minister Senator Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi will contest from NA-17 Abbotabad constituency while Sardar Muhstaq will be the PML-N nominee from NA-19.