LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, while reiterating the demand for convicted Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani's immediate resignation, said on Tuesday that his party would not let any high office ridicule the courts.
"We will not allow President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to destroy the state institutions and push the country towards anarchy and chaos. They will have to comply with the Supreme Court's verdict," Nawaz said, adding that he would salute all those who would join their struggle for the rule of law and respect for the judiciary.
He was addressing a May Day function, organised to distribute the keys to houses among labourers who were allotted houses in the Labour Colony on the Defence Road. During his address, Nawaz said the PML-N was fighting for democracy and for the supremacy of law.
The PML-N chief accused the PPP government of rampant corruption, and said the federal government's policies had brought the country to the brink of destruction. He also criticised the government over rental power and Haj corruption cases. "Someone's son or relatives are being named in corruption cases," he added.
Criticising the PPP and its popular "Roti, Kapra Aur Makan" slogan, Nawaz said people barely had food to feed their children, let alone clothe and shelter. "Prices are sky-rocketing every day but workers see no increase in their wages," added the PML-N chief.
Nawaz said the Pervez Musharraf government was responsible for most of the current problems but President Zardari lacked the courage to bring him to justice. ìInstead, he (Musharraf) was presented a guard of honour and sent abroad respectfully, though I had asked Asif Zardari to take him to task in 2008,î Nawaz recalled.
If the masses take a right decision in the upcoming elections, the country would become prosperous and problems would come to an end. He said if the people gave him a chance to rule the country, he would do 10 times more for their betterment than what he did during his previous rules. ìHow can new jobs be created when no electricity, gas and oil are available in the country,î he asked. He said life had become so much costly that sustenance had become hard even in a monthly income of Rs20,000.
"The PML-N has always strived for welfare and betterment of workers and labourers. My father was also a worker and did not get any land from the British rulers," he added.
Welcoming the announcement by his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for increasing workers minimum wages to Rs9,000 per month, Nawaz wished the minimum wage was Rs20,000 per month.
Online adds: Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday dispelled an impression created by media reports that politics was returning to the 1990s era."I have not seen such huge corruption in my life. They don't even spare pilgrims and plunder them," Nawaz lamented.
– Agencies
