Former PML-N leader and current president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, on Wednesday lashed out at PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for keeping party workers in dark about his secret exile deal for with military dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today, he said the PML-N workers and he himself only came to know about the deal when Sharif accepted at London airport that a deal had been inked for seven years.
Hashmi began his election campaign for NA-48 with a rare salvo against Nawaz. The presence of Nawaz in the federal capital on Wednesday had already heated the political environment. Since both senior politicians were campaigning in opposite camps in the federal capital, the passion and fervour of the workers was at new highs.
Asked why he had decided to terminate his decades-long association with the PML-N, Hashmi said it was an easy decision for him, as he decided to start a new struggle for the people of Pakistan after suffering a stroke.
He said Nawaz had never liked him due to his blatant expression of views during party meetings. Hashmi said the tipping point arrived when he made a public demand to the political elites of the country to bring back to the country their wealth abroad that had been stashed away in foreign bank accounts.
He said such a situation compelled him to join the PTI which he found the best platform where he could deliver for the country’s development and prosperity by serving the poor.
Describing his decision of parting ways with Nawaz historic, Hashmi said Nawaz had handed over the party affairs to him when he was under detention during Musharraf’s martial law.
“Nawaz never awarded party ticket to me with an open heart during my 24-year-long association with the PML-N. Every time I had to fight for the ticket. In year 1988, Nawaz Sharif refused me a ticket and said the ticket had already been decided for the son of the then governor Punjab (Makhdoom Sajjad Qureshi),” he asserted, referring to Shah Mahmood Qureshi, adding that he had to fight for the ticket and eventually won it. He added that his contributions for the party were never duly recognised by Sharifs.
He lamented that while he and other party workers were fighting against the tyrant regime in jails, the Sharifs were enjoying luxuries in Saudi Arabia by keeping them in dark about the deal.
“The people close to Nawaz today, including Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar and others, were also enjoying their normal lives in Pakistan seeking relaxation from Musharraf under a deal while I along with other party workers were jailed,” said the veteran politician, who is contesting elections on PTI tickets from NA 48 Islamabad and NA-149 Multan simultaneously.
Hashmi made it clear that he had no lust for power and he would never accept the coveted posts of prime minister or federal minister, rather he would prefer to work for delivery of rights of the poor masses while serving as an MNA.
The PTI heavyweight further alleged that PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari was elected as a president under a deal between the PPP and PML-N.
“PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat, JI’s Qazi Hussain Ahmed, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and all other parties had assured full support to the PML-N if Nawaz Sharif proposed me for presidency. However, since a deal was already struck, Nawaz did not propose my name and rather picked a weak candidate, making it a three-way fight. This helped Asif Zardari clinch the slot for the president,” he asserted.
Coming down hard on Nawaz, Hashmi said when the Musharraf toppled his (Nawaz) government and forced him to leave the country, he took up the gauntlet to fight the war of party’s survival due to which he had to go behind bars.
The PTI leader said PML-N leaders had turned their cannons towards Imran Khan, as they had miserably failed to deliver when they were enjoying power.
He said the PML-N leadership had no pro-masses agenda due to which, in utter desperation, they had resorted to criticising PTI chairman Imran Khan.
To a question, he said since the PML-N had miserably failed to deliver and mustering the masses’ support in their favour for the general elections, therefore, it wasted time in alluding to Imran Khan’s speeches, which never revealed foul language.
Hashmi is destine for crushing defeat from the PLM N candidate. His today,s statement is give solid ground to believe that he is mentally no more fit for politics.
nawaz is an oppurtunist and would use anybody for personal gains. He has no idea about the evryday struggles of common people. He is a liar and a coward. Dig deep into his record and you will find an egotistical self serving man who is as imcompetent as they come.
Grapes are sour and Mr Hashmi wait for a historic defeat. Mr Hashmi you were praising Nawaz that he can save the country just two days before you slipped away to PTI? Who can believe you except some naives who do not store information of the past events?
you are right we never trusted this guy who was praising NS.
what hashmi saying now against nawaz is totally opposite to what he has written in his book "Haan Mein Baghi Hun." Grow up hashmi…
agha sami
Yes he is Baghi, They are all criminals who broke PML back in 90's and made a faction PML-N. He is the person who stood against Zia but become a friend of Zia ul Haq's so called son Nawaz Sharif. This was his fault to remain with NS when NS becoma a bhai of Zardari. He is not Baghi he is sincere who led PML-N in the absence of Jackals when they were resting and enjoying as stateguest in KSA
pml n zindabad
pti k emotional log hahahahaha
Javed Hashmi had praised Nawaz Sharif as the only national leader who can save the country, just two days before switching over to PTI. He established himself statesman at PML-N platform. He should have some respect for the party where he spent 24 years.
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