Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday claimed that anti-Nawaz Sharif minus-one formula has failed and that the people of Pakistan have instead added a plus to the equation speaking out in his favour. Addressing a rally at Ayub Stadium on the 44th death anniversary of Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, Nawaz Sharif directed to remove bullet proof glass from the dais and said, "I removed it so that you can see me clearly." He said that his politics is based on an ideology and he respects it.
He reiterated that he is being subjected to revenge in the name of accountability, claiming that the people of Pakistan have rejected Supreme Court's decision of disqualifying him. "I was disqualified by judges who themselves took oath under the PCO," he claimed while protesting against Supreme Court's landmark July 28 verdict. Nawaz Sharif said that it takes only five people to sack a prime minister elected by millions of people.
He said the sanctity of vote will be restored with the nation's cooperation. He added that the supremacy of the constitution and law will be ensured. Commenting on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references, the former premier said that no corruption charge has been found against him so far. "Judicial authorities declared me dishonest and ousted me for not taking salary from my son," he continued. The former premier assured to lead Pakistan towards development by ensuring supremacy of constitution and law.
Paying a tribute to Khan Abdul Samad Khan, the ousted premier said the Pashtun nationalist leader gave a lot of sacrifices and spent 24 years behind bars for his political ideology. He said the late leader had wished to see a network of roads in Pakistan like those in Afghanistan. "Today we have far better roads and motorways in Balochistan than Afghanistan as we implemented his vision," the PML-N president said. My relationship with Balochistan is strong and unbreakable, he added.
Praising the people of Balochistan, he said people of Balochistan have always opposed the dictatorial regimes, adding, his party and Pashtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) have strong ideological bonds. "I never compromise when it comes to the law and constitution," Sharif remarked. Roads and motorways are being constructed in the province to provide transportation facilities to the citizens, he continued.
Expressing solidarity with Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Nawaz Sharif said that he will always support PMAP chief as he is on the right path. Pakistan will progress further with the betterment of Balochistan, he stated. Referring to the work done to eradicate power loadshedding, Sharif said the nation was bearing power outages for 20 hours before PML-N took charge of the government but now, the energy crises have been overcome at maximum level. Why all those who dragged the country into darkness were not held accountable, he asked.
Criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, he said that a cricketer calls Metro Bus Service as Jangla Bus Service. He added, "Now he is thinking of starting the same Jangla Bus Service in Peshawar." "A Naya Pakistan was being created in Peshawar. The situation has already gotten much worse there," he added. The former prime minister said that he was sure that the nation will make Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) victorious in 2018.