GUJRAT: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz has warned against any attempt to impose martial law in the country, saying it has never proved beneficial for the nation and its institutions, including the army, as true democracy is the only way forward to strengthen Pakistan.

“Whenever the international powers had to fight a war in this region, they would favour a martial law in Pakistan and now the clouds of war are hovering over Iran and the nation and its institutions should be well aware of the conspiracies being hatched to impose another martial law in Pakistan, like it was done in the past,” PML-N secretary general and ex-interior minister Ahsan Iqbal said while addressing a convention of the party workers here on Tuesday.

He cited example of the martial law imposed by Gen Zia ahead of US-sponsored war against former USSR, and said when Afghanistan was again attacked (by US and its allies) there was another military dictator, Gen Musharraf, in power.

He said a country where opinion and wishes of its citizens were not respected and instead they were treated like slaves, could never grow.

Mr Iqbal also cited example of India, where despite corruption and other domestic problems military never derailed democratic system, due to which the country was being taken seriously across the globe.

He alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been implementing a foreign agenda to ruin the country’s economy for which his party had been funded and brought into power by foreign elements.

He alleged that in October 1999 Nawaz Sharif was ousted for resisting international pressure and going for the nuclear tests in 1998 and was again sacked for launching the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Former prime minister and senior vice president of the PML-N Mr Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the video tape of accountability court judge had proved Nawaz Sharif was innocent.

He said how could a ruler deliver “without being elected legitimately”. He added that even after being ousted and facing jail Nawaz Sharif was the axis of Pakistani politics who would never compromise on principles, nor strike any deal.

He regretted that every Pakistani was facing hardships because of rising inflation, losses in business and exorbitant electricity rates and other utility bills but the government seemed unmoved.

He asked the party workers to organise themselves at union council level and also get ready to launch a “mass struggle” for getting justice for their leader Nawaz Sharif.

MNA Abid Raza Kotla, PML-N women’s wing president Senator Nuzhat Aamir, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gull, Haji Nasir Mehmood, Jafar Iqbal and other leaders also spoke.

Earlier, senior party leaders also addressed a workers convention at Jhelum where a large number of women party workers were present.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2019