Observer Report
Lahore
Former premier Nawaz Sharif, while speaking at the PML-N’s social media convention on Sunday, lamented that none of Pakistan’s elected prime ministers have been able to complete their term. Nawaz added, “Iqbal did not dream of this Pakistan.”
“Until now, none of the [elected] prime ministers have been allowed to complete their constitutional term. Every few years, democracy is attacked and martial law is imposed,” he said. “Again and again, the constitution was violated […] those who created the country were termed traitors, popular leaders were jailed and leaders were made out to be robbers.”
Referring to criticism over his speeches in the past few months, in which he has repeatedly accused the military leadership of interfering in government matters, Nawaz asked his followers if it was “treason to expose those who have formed a state above a state”.
“Ask yourself, why did this happen to my country?” Nawaz told his followers. He said that “undemocratic forces have started propaganda through social media that Nawaz Sharif’s narrative is empowering enemies of the country”.
“These undemocratic forces have choked freedom of expression in the country, choked the poor and unemployment, have crushed them with inflation […] these are painful things but all they are worried about is how to stop Nawaz Sharif.”
Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President Maryam
Nawaz, addressing the social media workers convention, said Pakistan Democratic Movement is due to make big decisions on December 8
and urged party workers to not fall under any “pressure”. She said after December 8, it will be a “do or die situation”.
Addressing provincial and national assembly members, she said: “If we call for resignations from the assemblies, you must be willing to
stand by us. Do not fall under any pressure.” She further said that whoever “falls under pressure and goes against the party” will have to
deal with the people, who will surround their homes.
Maryam said said the party workers must embrace any cases registered against them by the government. She said the people must know
“how fearful the government is” of the Opposition and that “the most that the government can do” is register cases.
“You must take these charge sheets, string them together and wear them proudly like a garland,” she told party workers, as she lamented
that as many as “3,000 first information reports” are filed after every rally held by the Opposition. “The people of Pakistan have won this
war. Victory only remains to be declared in the rally on the 13th,” she said.
Taking aim at the government, she said that with a single roti (piece of bread) costing Rs30, a family of 8-10 people have no hope of making
ends meet. She said PM Imran Khan used to claim that the “green passport will be respected across the world” but now flights from
Pakistan have been banned.
