GUJRAT: PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif reiterated that he is not competing against Imran Khan and Asif Zardari but he is contesting against those quarters that issue order and dictation to both of them.

He says Imran wants entry into power from the back channels, asking the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader to identify the umpire whose finger’s signal he is waiting for.

“But let me tell you that now the umpire will not work. Only the thumb impressions of the masses on ballots in favour of the PML N will ensure the success of Nawaz Sharif’s slogan of respect for the vote,” he says while addressing the PTI leader.

The PML- N leader was speaking to a public rally in Jhelum’s Zamir Jafari Stadium on Monday evening. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was also scheduled to attend the rally and speak to the party workers but she could not accompany her father.

“Hectic efforts are being made to put Nawaz Sharif into the jail after conviction for which day and night (court) hearings are being held just because the people of Pakistan and Jhelum love him as there is no charge of corruption against him and his only sin is that he has not received salary from his son,” he said while asking the crowd whether they approved of it and got ‘no’ from them in reply.

Enumerating the achievements of his tenure as the prime minister, he said he had brought investment in the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), terrorism was crushed, peace returned to Karachi, energy crisis was overcome, the country was made atomic power and it was getting prosperity rapidly but only five judges had ousted him.

Without mentioning any names, Nawaz bemoaned that those booked in the corruption cases in the last 20 years appeared before the court only once or twice but he had so far appeared in the accountability court for about 62 times and came straight to Jhelum from the court even on Monday.

Addressed the PTI chief, he asked him: “Where are your principles Mr Khan as you had repeatedly said that you would never shake hands with Zardari but your senators voted for the PPP’s electoral symbol in the Senate election”.

He said Shahbaz Sharif had achieved a tremendous development through mega projects in Punjab unlike the other three provinces. Peshawar and Karachi looked same with no development of infrastructure developed by their provincial governments, he lambasted the parties ruling the provinces of Sindh and KP.

Rain continued falling during Nawaz Sharif’s speech.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2018