Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s condolence visit to the family of the late famous lyricist Khawaja Pervaiz at Gawalmandi in Lahore on Saturday turned into a political event after he castigated the government for its incompetence in a fiery speech and issued a new decree that there was no harm in calling in the army if the civil administration failed to restore peace in the Karachi.
However, he said that any army action should be executed under the government’s supervision. Nawaz also came down hard on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for his comments regarding the grand opposition alliance and suggested that he should not cross the limit. Nawaz had earlier opted to hold a press conference to spell out his analysis at the residence of the martyred Lt Yasir Abbas Rizvi after offering condolences to the bereaved family.
Political circles have blasted Nawaz for choosing occasions that demand somber behaviour to propagate his political agenda. Gawalmandi, a stronghold of the PML-N, gave the impression of an election campaign as Nawaz made victory signs in response to a rousing welcome by the locals, who chanted slogans such as “Sher aya, sher aya!” (Here comes the tiger). He also called for discussions on the Karachi unrest in the National Assembly.
“The government should also avoid sabotaging the session,” he said. He said the opposition parties had come to a conclusion that nothing good could happen in the country in the current government’s tenure. About Imran Khan’s comments declaring the grand alliance a “fraud alliance”, Nawaz advised Imran to learn manners as his tone lacked decency.
