PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers celebrated Youm-i-Takbeer at different places in the provincial capital, with the party’s leaders pledging to take all steps for the development and prosperity of the country.

One function was held at Governor House under the aegis of Muslim Lawyers Forum with Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra in the chair while another gathering was held at Qissa Khwani Bazaar where the party’s provincial president, Pir Sabir Shah, was the chief guest.

The governor said that credit went to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who enabled the country to become a nuclear state in order to bring it on an equal footing with other developed nations. He stressed the need for people to support the government, irrespective of their political affiliations, to enable it to complete planned development schemes.

He also appreciated the sacrifices rendered by the security forces, saying that operation Zarb-i-Azb had successfully hit hard anti-state elements and restored peace to the country.

At the other public gathering held at Qissa Khwani Bazaar PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah, provincial general-secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak and others said that the PML had created the country and had carried out nuclear blasts to ensure its protection.

They said that only the PML, under leadership of Nawaz Sharif, had the capability to serve the nation and develop the country as the other political parties only believed in levelling allegations, observing sit-ins and wasting the time of the people.

Referring to the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, they said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had badly failed to materialise his commitments with people and thus voters were dissociating themselves from it.

Mr Shah claimed that PML-N was fast gaining popularity among the people and it would win future elections too to form the government in KP, adding that the party’s public meetings in KP had baffled the PTI leadership and other political parties.

Our staff correspondent in Quetta adds: Youm-i-Takbeer was observed with zeal here on Saturday, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif being lauded for his role in strengthening the country’s defence.

Addressing a ceremony organised by the PML-N at Quetta Press Club, Quetta Metropolitan Corporation deputy mayor and PML-N leader, Mir Muhammad Younas Lehri, said that credit went to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose government carried out the atomic test in Chagai on May 28, 1998, sending a message to the world that Pakistan’s defence was very strong. He added that the PML-N led government was carrying out mega projects in Balochistan to develop the province.

Another PML-N leader, Mirza Shamshad, said the atomic test was a signal to Pakistan’s enemies that they would not be allowed to cast an evil eye towards the country. “Pakistan’s enemies will fail in their nefarious designs against our country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2016