SIALKOT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday implored his political rivals to consider the country’s economic and political stability and end their “negative politics” in Pakistan’s larger interest.

Addressing a political gathering in Sialkot on Wednesday, the prime minister took jabs at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, terming its actions harmful to the economy. “The nation has been watching their dramas since 2014, when a dharna [sit-in] was orchestrated to topple the government,” he said. “Those who were rejected by the nation several times are now demanding my resignation.”

Criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party, the prime minister said the ’70s nationalisation plan under former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had hurt his family’s business interests. “Furthermore, I was never allowed to complete my term as prime minister. This is the first time I have spent four years in PM House. Let’s see what happens next.”

Sharif regrets he’s never been allowed to complete his term as prime minister

Mr Sharif claimed that his political opponents were placing hurdles for his party because they knew that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would sweep the next election.

The prime minister was visiting Sialkot to inaugurate the Sheikh Riazuddin Business and Trade Centre located next to the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Speaking to exporters at the SCCI building, Mr Sharif said he was aware of the problems the business community were facing. “There is progress only during democratic regimes...dictatorships have only led to regression,” he said. The exporters of Sialkot were the backbone of the national economy, earning up to $2 billion each year in foreign exchange, he said.

International financial institutions had acknowledged the improvement in Pakistan’s economic indicators, the PM said, adding that the government was doing its best to remove all hurdles and foil all conspiracies aimed at halting this progress.

He alleged that former US president Bill Clinton had offered him Rs5 billion to not go ahead with nuclear blasts, adding that he would have accepted the offer had he not cared for the people.

“Unlike previous regimes, our government was not accused of corruption even once in the last four years,” Mr Sharif told members of the SCCI.

He demanded to know why his family was being held accountable when his government was not involved in any corruption scandal. “I don’t understand when this corruption, which we are being held accountable for, even took place. We don’t even know if we are being blamed for embezzling public money or running private businesses,” he lamented.

A few years ago, the people were sick and tired of endless power outages, unemployment, lawlessness and a lack of investment in the country, he said.

The prime minister said the stock market had risen from 19,000 to 54,000 points since his government had come to power. However, he regretted that the stock market had slumped by 10,000 points since the campaign against him kicked off. “Who is responsible for this loss?” he questioned.

The PM vowed to add Pakistan to the list of developed countries, and said that the masses had rejected those who were trying to take the country back to the Stone Age. Pakistan was far more prosperous in 2017 than it had been in 2013, he said.

Mr Sharif visited Sheikhupura district to review ongoing work on the Lahore-Sailkot Motorway in Kala Shah Kaku. He said the 91km-long motorway would be completed in March 2018 at a cost of Rs45 billion. Addressing a gathering there, he promised that his government would increase the living standard of the masses and provide everyone access to basic facilities without discrimination.

Rana Sarwar in Sheikhupura contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2017