Training his guns at President Asif Ali Zardari with full force in a bid to give a stern message to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government, but falling short of making any spectacular announcement or touching on the more pressing issues faced by the people, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked the PPP co-chairman to step down and return the public money he looted, or else prepare “to be hanged upside down at Bhaati Chowk”.
Calling Zaradri a madari (showman), the chief minister announced that the vast majority of the Pakistani people were ready for a final battle to end Zardari’s rule and the PML-N would not rest until Pakistan was purged from “Zardari Ali Baba and the 40 thieves”. If there was one message the PML-N rally succeeded in delivering adroitly with its show of strength on Friday, it was that now the gloves are off. A 30,000-strong rally kicked off at Bhaati Chowk and began to swell as it proceeded along its planned route. The political temperature went up several notches as a war of words unfolded between the PML-N and the PPP, which came out all guns blazing as well, refuting the PML-N’s claims and mocking the rally and its content.
The tone and tempo of the rally resembled the ones taken out by the PML-N at the time of governor’s rule in Punjab, with all PML-N giants present to make sure it was a success. According to most political analysts, the PML-N called the rally to create a confrontation in the country to force early general elections in order to prevent the PPP from winning the upcoming Senate elections, which many experts say will be a precursor to a general election victory for the PPP.
The advent of Imran Khan as a political juggernaut in the Punjab, which contributes the largest number of seats to parliament, is also worrisome for the PML-N leadership and the rally was largely seen as an effort to shore up the PML-N’s status as the real force in the province, as opposed to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The rally, which wound its way from Nasir Bagh to Bhaati Chowk, was supposed to be based on protesting against three basic issues: inflation, load shedding and corruption. But it was struck with an anti-Zardari mania instead, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of most participants and independent observers.
People had mixed reactions to the rally and its success, comparisons with Imran Khan’s rally to be held on October 30 and the language used by the chief minister to bash Zardari. Most were shocked by the language with which Shahbaz assaulted the president, and saw the spectacle as an effort to pit one institutional office against another to dislodge a democratically-elected government.
Surrounded by law enforcement personnel and heavily bedecked with hoardings, banners and stickers bearing pictures of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, the rally waited for Nawaz to appear for some hours, who was believed to be rushing back from Turkey to attend the event. That proved, however, to be a trick to boost the morale of the crowd, which continued to grow nonetheless with caravans hailing from various parts of Punjab.
Shahbaz told the rally that Zardari was desperately searching for infiltrators to plunder the PML-N vote bank, but such dreams would never materialise. He said Zardari’s ditching of flood victims in Sindh and Punjab, laughing at dengue-stricken people and dishonouring Pakistan on May 2 had proved that he could not be the president. “Why are there crises of power outage, gas shortage and inflation? The answer is simple: an ominous person is sitting in the office of the president,” he said.
Shahbaz said further that more than three-and-a-half years of Zardari’s rule plunged the country into darkness, with no electricity, but as soon as the PML-N hit the streets, load shedding vanished. He said Nawaz wanted Zardari’s government to complete its constitutional time. “Nawaz showed complete patience and even put up with criticism of being a friendly opposition but his kindheartedness was misunderstood as lack of courage,” he said. “Now the time is over for Zardari and we will defeat him the way we defeated dengue in Punjab,” he added.
Talking about the helicopter dispute, he said Zardari denied him a helicopter and wanted him to buy a new one, but he said he would prefer to go on foot or bicycle or motorcycle but would never waste Rs 70 million on a new helicopter. Shahbaz said that if parliament did not hold Zardari accountable, the people of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Larkana would not spare him and like Egypt, every chowk in the country would become Tahreer Square for him. He said those who taunted the PML-N for being politically isolated should look at the huge public gathering in the city of Data Sahib as the people had come out to eliminate corruption from the country.
Expressing pride at Punjab’s performance, Shahbaz said he had wiped out corruption from the top. “We also established the rule of good governance, implemented public welfare projects including Aashiana Housing Scheme, Danish Schools, appointments of 70,000 teachers and hiring of police purely on merit,” he said. However, Zardari turned things chaotic and messy, taking all hope away from the people, he added. He said the war to get rid of Zardari had now begun and the way the people had won freedom from the Hindus in 1947, the PML-N would now do the same job by salvaging Pakistan from Zardari and other looters.
“The whole city has converged here. Shame on the people who said PML-N has been isolated,” shouted MP Saad Rafiq from the top of a moving truck. An effigy of the president was beaten and set ablaze to a crescendo of “Go Zardari, Go!” Opposition followers danced as songs praising Nawaz Sharif were blasted at full volume from the sound systems. Others carried toy tigers – the PML-N’s election symbol – shouting “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif!”
PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooq declined to put a figure on the turnout, saying: “There is a sea of people. We just cannot count.”
Its about power and needless to say the establishment cannot stand any person from minority provinces becoming powerful. So obviously Zardari needs to be hanged!
Shameless! Why did we ever agree to Pakistan khappay!
What it has to do with small province or big province. It's all about the corruption no matter who does it. And by the way establishment is against PMLN. They are supporting PTI so that it can devide the votes of PMLN and it will definitely help PPP win next elections.
Esatblishment can never be against PMLN as it belongs to Punjab and establishment is 100% dominated by Punjab. Why not Punjab dominated media raises noise against the mega corrupt political mafia if Punjab. The purpose behind supporting PTI is not to damage PMLN but to put PMLN on the track to dislodge anti-establishment party in the centre.
Pakistani politicians are at their best in scorched earth policy.
I wonder why did PML-N changed its stance when this has been going on for almost 4 years now and last year it said that it would not oppose PPP as it would be a disgrace to democracy. I think if PML-N and PTI are on the same agenda they should settle there differences and work together.
What s agenda of both? It is to destroy Pakistan by demanding illegal removal of govt and scramble the constitution . For this kind of politics Pakistan had to pay heavy price in the past, even dismemberment of country into two. Why u people not learn from history? let me tell u clearly noone even angelest of angels can resolve problems of Pakistan unless it politicians play the game of politics according to rules of constitution.
LOLS – "some were shocked at the language used"! These are signs of fear people – fear of what happened to self proclaimed badshahs like Gaddafi – and fear of Imran Khan ruining their perfectly designed and running corrupt plans to make enough money so that 50 of their generations can remain illiterate and unemployed for life while basking in luxury and the arms of a minimum 3-4 "wives" and countless mistresses like Mr. Shahbaz Sharif who is on marriage number 4 I believe and drinks like a fish – LOL. The slogan should "go uloo kay pathay go!!" ALL OF YOU!
PML-N is adopting unconstitutional means to remove Asif Zardari who was elected constitutionally with a thumping majority. He won against PML-N candidate for President with a wide margin.
Shahbaz Sharif's speech was one of desperation with no plan for the future. The only prominent feature of his speech was foul language which one wonders whether he learned from his mother's lap or subsequently from the bad company he keeps.
@Jan u r distorting the facts
Politicians have no right to complete full 5 years if they cant handle the issues of the country, What rules u r talking of from politician who came to power through NRO and others through the help of Lota block in Punjab Assembly….
PML-N enjoyed almost 3years as friendly opposition.Now PML-N Felt that they could not do any thing for the people of pakistan,and they want to show that they are not with government thay are with the people of Pakistan.But the people of Pakistan better know that all the Politician are playing game for their own interest,they are not sincere to Pakistan.
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