People’s will not to be overruled again, says Nawaz

E-Paper | February 23, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The will of the people will never be overruled again in the country, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday.

He was referring to the October 12, 1999 coup, when the then army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf overthrew a democratically elected government.

The PM said that Pakistan’s future lies in democracy, adding that an elected parliament, independent judiciary and vibrant media is there to guard the freedom and liberties of the people.

“Insha Allah (God willing) we the chosen representatives of people, will strive hard to strengthen democracy, and to establish rule of law,” he added.

Former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, through a military coup, overthrew Sharif’s government on October 12, 1999 and sent him into exile in Saudi Arabia.

With the government investigating to try him in treason charges, the former military strongman is currently under house arrest at his own farmhouse in Chak Shahzad.

The former president was seeking a bail in Lal Masjid operation case after being granted bail in three other cases including assassinations of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and detention of deposed Supreme Court judges.

Musharraf was forced out of office after trying and failing to fire the country's chief justice. The former president and head of the army went into exile in 2008 but returned earlier this year in an abortive attempt to launch a political career.

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Parvez

Oct 13, 2013 12:06am

Sir, the time for talking the talk is over.............people want to see results.

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Haider Khan

Oct 13, 2013 12:09am

So sad.We are stuck with either jamhoriat or martial law. Not for a single day after Jinnah Sahib passed away did our rulers made efforts to base Pakistan's Social, Judicial and Economic system on Islam. If you are so sure about your syatem then why not to have a vote on Islamic Law?

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P.R.Koduri

Oct 13, 2013 12:26am

Pakistan is not overburdened by gerontocracy. If the "Letter to the Editor" column in Dawn is any measure, the people appear to be concerned about matters other than getting their ration cards or the like. If democracy takes deep roots, the country can look forward to better times with peace and prosperity. To a casual observes the Country looks deceptively tranquil minus the daily Festivals, Strikes, bandhs and Roko-this and Roko-that.

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Abid Mohiuddin

Oct 13, 2013 02:10am

Insha Allah you will jailed again as you won election through corruption

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Malik

Oct 13, 2013 02:15am

Think before you say, you are not different than Zardari. Under the slogan of democracy, you think you have the Mandate to loot Pakistan for 5 years, like Zardari. Your first 100 days in Power are not better than Zardari's. The will of the People is not only being overruled, it is being CRUSHED ! BADSHAH SALAMAT, WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE !

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Mustafa

Oct 13, 2013 02:18am

Coming from Nawaz's mouth, "People" is a euphemism for Patwari.

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kashif

Oct 13, 2013 04:02am

but not in cheated democracy, not in the corrupt rulers like nawaz and the rest. May Allah give all these rulers such a punishment that 7 of thier next generations wont forget. This though unfortunately wont happen in pakistan, as God wont help us, since God only help those who help themselves.

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Ali

Oct 13, 2013 04:05am

The press and media both print and electronic should refresh the minds of the people the reason as to why Nawaz government was overthrown by Musharaff, what. was reason behind this army action.Elected governments have been dismissed by both GIK and Leghari.before as well.

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kirther

Oct 13, 2013 04:15am

yes the future lies in clean democratic system free from all corrupt religious leaders, politicians and government operatives--under the present circumstances Pakistanis' cannot even dream about a good democratic system, thanks to uneducated and corrupt politicians who are known to use forged documents and illegal methods for winning elections.

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Jamal

Oct 13, 2013 05:54am

I'm surprised that Nawaz Sharif is trying to take credit for freedom of the media, which was entirely ensured under Musharraf's supposed 'Dictatorship'. The whole multitude of radio station and tv station licences was issued under Musharraf's rule, not to mention that it was under his rule that media was allowed to be critical of the governments in power. No democratic govt. in Pakistan's history could claim that achievement. I wish these media companies could atleast come out and acknowledge what Musharraf did right!

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Sarwat

Oct 13, 2013 08:12am

Mr. PM, please, current freedom that our sick media enjoys it because of Musharraf, no one else can take credit for it.

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Mustafa

Oct 13, 2013 10:19am

Mr. Nawaz Sharif said:

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Ancers

Oct 13, 2013 10:53am

PEOPLE WILL NOT BE OVERRULED AGAIN except by carrier politicians who have earned the right to rule them generation after generation and have perfected the art and science of stealing the election in spirit of true democracy, only, and for no other reason except to save the country and the people that will not be overruled again.

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IBN-E-ASHFAQUE

Oct 13, 2013 11:47am

Winning an election does not mean you do whatever you want for the next 5 years. Once the government loses legitimacy it needs to go; and with rising inflation and by not taxing the rich this government is losing its legitimacy very fast.

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M. Anwar Qureshi

Oct 13, 2013 01:22pm

PM N. Sharif is mistaken what he is saying now. He should look around who have surrounded him. People are fed up in his first 100 days due to cost of living, security and law and order situation and rupee getting weaker and weaker every day during his regime resulting in further high cost of living. We do not want to listen his sermons. Soon military will take over to alleviate the problems Pakistan and Pakistanis are facing. Politicians cannot be trusted. They just want power for themselves and for their kids.

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M. Anwar Qureshi

Oct 13, 2013 01:28pm

@Parvez: Both bros Sharif and Shahbaz are befooling the people. It cannot continue any longer. Soon people will look up to military Janta to get rid of them.

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S A Khokhar

Oct 13, 2013 03:21pm

What? Pakistan have alredy been overruled by Sharifs! they belong to history books a long ago!

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farrukh

Oct 13, 2013 03:52pm

Mr Prime minister.... .remember one thing...this deep rooted hatred and vengeance against Musharaf will take you nowhere but a fall from grace in the eyes of the nation who elected you to solve their problems whereas you are hell bent to avenge yourself.

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Anon

Oct 13, 2013 04:57pm

Again? Meaning after he stole the elections?

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Bacchus Piggawala

Oct 13, 2013 09:12pm

@Parvez: What results did you have in mind? That democracy becomes perfect in 90 days? or rule of law is imposed in 89 days? or corruption is reduced to zero in 88? Please grow up. What the PM is talking about is a long term struggle to ensure democracy is strengthened in Pakistan so that it is the elected representatives of the people who make decisions about governance, the economy and law. Rightly, he sees his government as one step in that direction. Let's not get carried away with wanting to fix everything in a short time.

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