Taking a jab at President Asif Ali Zardari’s challenge to visit Nawabshah, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said he had visited the district in compliance with Zardari’s ‘order’, and it was the president’s turn to take some time out and ensure the well being of the affected people.
Speaking to reporters at the Nawabshah Circuit House on Saturday, Nawaz said it was “time to forget politics and save the country”. “He [the president] told us to praise his achievements rather than politicking, but I do not understand what to praise and what to criticise, as there are problems everywhere,” he said. While visiting the rain-hit areas of the district earlier, the PML-N chief said he had come to Nawabshah to share the miseries of rain-affected people. “I am with the people of Sindh at this difficult juncture of time,” he said.
“I would have been among you earlier. But President Zardari was here, therefore, I did not come up here,” he said. “We will serve the people of Sindh the way we are serving those in Punjab.” Talking to reporters, Nawaz said the PML-N was being targeted systematically but said he did not come to Nawabshah to criticise the Sindh government. He called on all political parties to unite for establishing peace in Karachi, adding that the PML-N would lend all possible support to the Sindh government for the purpose. Nawaz said all culprits involved in the massacre in Karachi should be brought to justice.
“For the last three weeks, the country is facing a political drama. Altaf Hussain’s allegation against the PML-N of amassing weapons is a laughing matter. Everybody knows who is behind the bloodshed in Karachi,” he said. The PML-N president said “we will break up those who are talking of dismembering Pakistan”. “This is not time for politicking. This is time for saving the country. I am ready to keep my politics aside for the cause. We will break up those who are talking of dismembering the country. Pakistan is not a toy that can be broken by those in whose hands it goes into,” he said.
Nawaz said his party was ready to work with the PPP if it took proper steps to resolve the basic issues and strive for the development of the country. He said there was no use of forming committees that had no power. He said Public Accounts Committee Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan exposed corruption cases of the government that were being shelved. “Rumours are being spread that Chaudhry Nisar is resigning as the PAC chairman, but all such reports are baseless. Rulers are making preparations to make PAC ineffective to cover up their corruption,” he added.
It’s your turn now, Mr President!
