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We should no longer compromise on 'honouring the vote', Nawaz tells party leaders
Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that all trials and tribulations currently being faced by Pakistan will vanish if the people's vote is accorded the respect it deserves.
"We should no longer compromise at all on 'vote ko izzat do' [honour the vote]," the former premier said while addressing a gathering of party leaders in Rawalpindi.
Sharif stressed that Pakistan will truly set out on the path of progress once the electorate's power is recognised.
Talking about the recent defections of PML-N leaders to other parties, Sharif said those who had switched allegiances "were never ours [to begin with]".
Rubbishing rumours of internal cracks within his party, the former prime minister said the PML-N remains "even more spirited than before" despite the desertion by some leaders, which he said were routine during the last few months before elections.
Sharif also addressed people who he claimed "speculate every time" that he will not return to Pakistan from his trips to London, where he has been visiting his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is undergoing cancer treatment there.
"I want to ask you, why do you speculate these things every time even though your suspicions are proven wrong every time," he said about his detractors.
'Answer to us, first'
Sharif said the corruption trial he and his family members are currently facing revolves solely around his family's heritage.
Recounting his family's financial history, Sharif said their factories were nationalised in 1972 in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan war in 1971. He said his father then decided to set up a steel mill in Dubai, which is being scrutinised now decades later.
Sharif said his family is being questioned about how they managed to establish a factory in Dubai, but remarked: "You should answer us first, for not giving us even a penny after nationalisation... was it not our right?"
The ousted premier once again questioned why no prime minister in Pakistan has ever been able to complete his or her tenure even though the situation in India is the opposite.
Suggesting that his disqualification by the Supreme Court last year derailed the economic progress of the country, Sharif claimed the credit for reviving non-functional power projects, introducing new LNG and coal-fired power plants and building major roads and motorways.
Comments (25) Closed
who is this person?
It makes sense to honour 'honest' elected politicians. But why should one honour those who are elected but not 'honest'. So, just being elected does not guarantee anything.
I think there's a difference when you make fun of yourself and your own behavior, and when you dishonor or disrespect vote. If you're making a mockery of vote is one thing. But if you're just joking about human foibles and weaknesses, I think that's perfectly acceptable.
The ongoing litigations are not related to vote, election, or ECP . These litigations are against naked bizarre shameful corruptions and misdeeds of dishonest, politicians, our courts alhamdolillah are free & independent, they are deciding cases in fair and just manner, a stalwart of PTI also disqualified, that person is not agitating. Nobody have right to vandalize court orders in political rallies, or drag judges in their political agenda. In reality the courts are exercising utmost tolerance and leniency, which certainly such politicians do not deserve.
Mr NS you have been in power three times and failed every time. Please stop stressing that Pakistan will truly set out on the path of progress once the electorate's power is recognized.
NS obviously thinks that honouring the vote means freedom to plunder. Sorry, you had your chance . Time to be part of history now.
Your trials and tribulations are coming to an end when you are locked up and the keys melted.
“ all trials and tribulations currently being faced by Pakistan “
Honouring the Vote is completely un-related to providing money trail for ill-gotten wealth. When will these people understand this fact?
He has stared to sound like a broken record, repeating the same words again and again.
What about honoring the oath sir.
Your term of PM's ship is over go home and enjoy retirement. Peoples of Pakistan are smart and have power to vote you out.
You are right. Some politicians think they should be party leader and in the power for ever. Obviously they do not understand the difference between monarchy and democracy. Time to step aside and let others come forward who capable of serving people of the country by delivering positive results and progress for all.
Thank you Dawn for your objective reporting. We must for once and all decide the supremacy of people, parliament and our elected leaders over the unelected wannabe messiahs. We have suffered a lot for last 70 years because of unelected institutions meddling in politics and not respecting the choice of the people.
If the factories were nationalized in 1972, and you were rich, why would you play these games with those flats and apartments, with their ownership, with all the offshore companies and their ownership. Answer that first.
To military, politicians, bureaucrates, Please Give the honor to VOTER.
He is right
Please leave us alone mr. Sharif. We ve had enough of you now. Go retire in peace...
Please go home, the party is over.
Nawaz who ?
But the voters are gullible, they fall for sound bites specially when politicians hide the true purpose of getting elected i.e. to line their own pockets. Then there is the Zamindar factor, the captive vote banks. There is no fair and free elections taking place. It is an irony for NS to make a song and dance about “ honouring the vote” for such votes were obtained through deceit, one has to only compare his prosperity with that of the country’s.
Sir , please accept SC verdict, you are disqualified, show us money trial do not fool Pakistani, how you purchase London flats, do you have proof.
The found love and respect for the franchise seemingly have brought an amazing change in our Quaid for life. When he was dreaming of becoming Amir-ul Momineen, he also sought power to be able to throw out the elected members of parliament. Of course, within PML-N he never allowed a free vote for the election of leadership.
Look who is talking!
Who are you ??? we have erased you from the probable list of vote contenders since you are a proved liar, dishonest declared convicted person ... so plz shut ....
Which vote which democracy is Nawaz Sharif talking. Votes are either bought or coerced through brathery or stooges in government. Is it a democracy where people are denied fundamental rights like clean drinking water. health and education.