Our Correspondent
Quetta
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz has said that it is time to change the destiny of Pakistan. The sun of people’s sovereignty is about to rise and the game of puppets is about to end.
She was addressing the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s third power show in Quetta on Sunday amid heightened security measures owing to a threat alert issued by the National Counter Terrorism Authority.
She strongly condemned the issue of blasphemous sketches in France and said that the hearts of the entire Muslim Ummah was saddened by this heinous act and the incident deserves as much condemnation as possible. The publication of blasphemous sketches in France hurt our feelings, she added. She asked the people to raise their hands and record their protests against such disrespectful actions.
The PML-N vice president went on to express solidarity with the Baloch students protesting for the restoration of scholarships at the Bahauddin Zakriya University in Lahore. She had earlier met them in Lahore on Friday after they arrived at the
provincial capital on foot from Multan on Thursday.
Maryam said that like Punjab, students of Balochistan are also dear to her. It is unfortunate that the scholarship of Baloch students has been terminated. Baloch students protested against this in the cold but no one took pity on them. It is hoped that the
rulers will show mercy and scholarships will be restored.
The PML-N leader said that the Quaid-e-Azam had said that respect the vote of the people, respect the constitution but was that implemented in past 70 years. Was the constitution respected? Were the policies made by public representatives and
obeyed?
“We demand respect for the vote,” she said. State and fake governments should not be formed above the state. It is the job of public representatives to formulate policies for the country.
Garnering much appreciation for adorning a Balochi dress, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz during her speech said, “I was asked at the hotel about the message I wanted to give to the people of Balochistan by wearing this dress, and I said that this
meant that I do not only stand for the people of Punjab”.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing the PDM rally via video link from Gilgit-Baltistan, said that his party will not part ways with the opposition alliance, PDM come what may, adding that those who are conspiring against
it will only face disappointment in this connection.
“Those who are dreaming of breaking the opposition alliance will never succeed… we are not among those who back down from their stance,” he said.
He said people of Balochistan despite having abundance of natural resources including gas and gold mines are living in a miserable condition.
“People of Balochistan are brave and they know how to get their rights.
“What kind of democracy is this where no one including judiciary, media and people are not free.” Bilawal said people all across the country wanted freedom from poverty, unemployment and are demanding restoration of the genuine democracy in the
country. Speaking on the issue of Captain (retd) Safdar’s arrest, Bilawal said: “I salute Sindh police who refused to be a Tiger Force of Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, who was the last to address the rally, condemned the arrest of PML-N leader Safdar and the ‘detention’ of MNA Mohsin Dawar at the Quetta airport, saying that the latter incident was “contrary to Balochistan’s traditions”.
Rehman insisted that he was not against institutions but “when they impose martial law in Pakistan or when they back a fake government, it is our right to complain and protest”.
“Even today, if our establishment stops backing [this] fake government, if it apologises before the nation that ‘we did wrong during the elections and ruined Pakistan’s mandate’, we are ready to hold it in esteem,” he said.
He said that JUI-F had played its part in protecting the 18th Amendment and, by holding ‘all parties conferences’ in all provinces, had succeeded in creating a consensus. He assured that his party would not allow anyone to curb the rights of any
province.
Referring to Supreme Court’s verdict in a case pertaining to the presidential references against Justice Isa, Rehman said that the government should resign as it has lost its “moral authority”.
Balochistan National Party President Sardar Akhtar Mengal, while addressing the people, said that while the province had always held up democratic ideals, it had gotten little in return. He highlighted the missing persons issue once again, saying that
the families have been waiting for their loved ones for 10 years.
