Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz on Monday said that the people of Pakistan had rejected Imran's demand of resignation from the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He was addressing a mammoth rally of the PML-N workers named "Istehkam-e-Pakistan rally" at the Faisal Chowk, here. The rally organised to show the PML-N strength in Lahore in the wake of protests in Red Zone Islamabad was held from Qurtaba Chowk to Chairing Cross amid slogans of 'Go Imran Go'.
The Law-enforcing agencies have adopted stringent security measures for the protection of the participants of the rally and the route of the rally was blocked by placing barricades. A large number of the PML-N activists including women and youth wing workers led by legislators participated in the rally and expressed a complete conference in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. The PML-N workers raised slogans in favour of the PML-N leadership and said nobody would be allowed to insult the public mandate given in May 2013 elections. The participants of the rally described revolution and Azadi marches in Islamabad as a great loss to national economy, stability and development of country.
The participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of the Prime Minister and democracy. They also expressed the resolve that they would counter any unconstitutional move against democracy. Addressing the participants of the rally, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz said that the participation of thousands of people in this rally proved that people had full confidence in the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. He said that so-called Azadi March had exposed the real face of Imran Khan. He claimed that about 12 MNAs of the PTI had formed a forward bloc. He added that Imran had caused a great harm to the country apart from wasting precious time of the nation. He said that the announcement of civil disobedience by Imran Khan had been rejected by all trader communities, civil society and lawyers.
He said Imran Khan used a foul language but the PML-N leadership had asked the PML-N leaders to show patience and avoid reacting in the same manner. He also said Imran Khan daily invited singers to his sit-in in Islamabad and held musical shows. He said that Imran was insisting like a kid to become the country's prime minister. "Imran should wait for the next elections. Nobody can take resignation from the prime minister," Hamza affirmed.
The PML-N said that Imran wanted to establish a Naya Pakistan through dance performance of women and girls. He maintained that the nation had altogether rejected unconstitutional demands of Imran Khan. He said the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif was an iron man and would not tender a resignation at any cost. He advised Imran to give up his rigid attitude and wait till next elections. He said as many as 11 parliamentary parties in National Assembly through a resolution declared that resignation demand from PM Nawaz Sharif was unconstitutional. He added that all democratic parties including opposition were standing with PM Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He said those holding protests in Red Zone of Islamabad in violation of written agreement wanted to create hurdles in the way of progress and prosperity of the country. He said that undemocratic elements were hatching conspiracies to derail democracy but they had been fully exposed.
Hamza said there was not a single complaint of corruption against the PML-N government. He expressed a resolve to bring prosperity in the country through removing darkness and constructing Lahore-Karachi Motorway. He said, his father who was facing cancer when moved to operation theatre advised him to lead simple life but never indulged in illegal practices. He said the PML-N put the country on the road of progress and prosperity by making macro-economic indicators positive. He added that where those people who announced to resign if dollar was depreciated. He said pivot the PML-N politics was service to the people and putting the country on road to progress as per vision of the father of the nation.
Other speakers including Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Shaista Pervez Malik and others said that so called sit-ins had put the country's economy at the stake but with the blessings of Allah Almighty and force of people, the country would make a rapid progress under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. They said that Sharif brothers were a pivot of expectations of public and the opponents had been disappointed by the performance of the government for the last 1.3 years and the continuity of its mega projects and 180 million people would never accept any unconstitutional and undemocratic change. They said that the designs of those threatening to break Red Zone had been exposed to the people.