Sit-ins an insult to masses’ mandate: PM

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that these sit-ins, strikes and lockdown threats are an insult to the mandate of the masses.

He was addressing a large crowd of people on Saturday at Phool Nagar. He said, “Imran Khan has never seen jail. We have fought a military dictator. ‘Spent time in prison and exile, all for the sake of democracy’.

Without taking the name of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the PM said: “The country rejected them in the general elections of 2013, now they are taking their revenge from the country.” “But the country will again reject them in the 2018 elections,” he maintained.

He said Imran Khan was mortifying the same democracy which allowed him to protest on the streets, adding that his government would complete its term and form government for the next five years.

The premier vowed once again to not only end load shedding but also to make electricity cheaper, adding “when Nawaz Sharif makes a promise he fulfils it.”

“The motorway had been extended to Lahore in 1999 but our government was brought to end, now we will take it further,” Nawaz said.

He also stated that terrorism has been fought in the country and the world has appreciated Pakistan’s efforts against extremism. “Pakistan is becoming more peaceful.”

He announced that Rs50 million was being invested into gas projects in Phol Nagar and Rs100 million would be invested in the development projects.

Referring to PTI once again he said, “The opposition wants to end Pakistan’s road to success, however, it is their political careers that will end soon.”

Nawaz’s visit to Kasur comes at a time when the PTI and the ruling PML-N have locked horns over the Panama Papers scandal.

PTI has announced plans to lay siege on the federal capital on Nov 2 “at any cost” if by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif doesn’t agree to an investigation into the Panama Papers leaks, under the terms of reference proposed by the opposition, or resign from his position.

He claimed that Pakistan today was much better than it was in 2013. “The Pakistan of 2018 will be much better than it is now.”

The prime minister said he was working day and night for the development of Pakistan. He added that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a huge project in Pakistan’s history. “Our opponents are trying to sabotage this development project. ‘They feel if this government launches such projects, their political future will end.”

He announced Rs 500 million gas project for NA 141. He announced another Rs 300 million project for irrigation. For NA 142 he announced Rs 1 billion project for Sui gas. He announced another Rs 1 billion for development projects.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the ruling PML-N government will remain undeterred to protests being launched in Islamabad.

“Rallies are being taken out [in the federal capital] but we are not threatened by them and will not surrender [to their demands],” he said. “Our rivals are trying to seize and sabotage the process of development in the country,” the premier added.