PESHAWAR, Sept 16: Mian Nawaz Sharif, chief of PML-N, said here on Friday that peace could be restored in Karachi only by ruthless action against troublemakers.

He also stressed the need for exposing political sponsors of Karachi target killers, land grabbers and extortionists. Mr Sharif said that the PPP-led government was too incompetent to govern the country.

Speaking during the workers' convention here, Mr Sharif criticised the Pakistan People's Party-led federal government over failure to steer the country out of serious crises, including poor law and order situation in Karachi. He said the government's unwillingness to allow debate on growing Karachi violence in the National Assembly forced the Supreme Court to take the suo motu notice.

The PML-N leader accused the government of “plundering national wealth with both hands”.

He said top guns of the government were busy receiving kickbacks and enjoying foreign trips at the state expense instead of attending to the misery of the flood, dengue and terrorism victims.

Mr Sharif said the government's indifference led to the killings of scores of people in Karachi.

Without naming names, he said certain groups intentionally created a law and order situation in Karachi to weaken national economy.

He said peace could be restored in the port city by an across-the-board action against target-killers, land grabbers and extortionists and their political sponsors.

The PML-N leader alleged that several political parties were involved in Karachi violence that had made the lives of the locals miserable for no fault of theirs.

He however, didn't name those parties.

He said the current serious socioeconomic and security crises had been pushing the country towards a revolution and that his party would be part of it in the larger national interest.

He further said bad governance had left Pakistan alone in comity of nations.

The PML-N leader said members of the ruling coalition parties were busy spending luxurious life. He said foreign loans had been fast increasing since PPP formed government in the centre.

He stressed the need for re-directing the country towards peace and development.

“We don't agree to the government's agenda. It's pushing the country into deeper crisis,” he said.

About widespread damages to public life and property by rains and flooding in Sindh, Mr Sharif said political parties should set aside their differences and get together to mitigate the sufferings of the calamity-hit communities. He said political parties should also come to the help of dengue victims.

He said prolonged power load shedding had brought industries to a standstill rendering thousands of people jobless but the government had miserably failed to attend to the energy crisis.

The PML-N leader regretted that the 450 megawatts rental power plant rusting at Karachi Port for months had yet to generate electricity.

He also said the plant was costing the kitty millions of rupees a month.

Mr Sharif said arrival of another rental power plant in the country was around the corner but those at the helm of affairs were more interested in finalising commission for the award of its contract than ensuring its early arrival.

He said had he been the prime minister, he would have prioritised smooth electric supply to domestic and industrial consumers. He said if his party was given the chance to form government in the Centre after the next general elections, an early solution to power crisis would be ensured.

Earlier, former provincial minister and Awami National Party leader Farid Toofan announced to join PML-N.

He said having served ANP for over 45 years, he had been asked to 'surrender silently' instead of complaining of the excesses of the party's government against party workers.

He said he however, preferred to speak for workers and was forced into quitting party.

During the public meeting, workers of two PML-N groups repeatedly exchanged hot words. The leaders asked them not to do so but to no avail.

Some workers protested fresh party nominations in Peshawar by wearing black armbands and displaying placards.

Noted among those in attendance were Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ahsan Iqbal, Pir Sabir Shah and Rehmat Salam.

Earlier in the day, the PML-N chief visited the Lady Reading Hospital to inquire after the wounded schoolchildren, whose van was attacked by militants on the city outskirts on Tuesday.