TOBA TEK SINGH: PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah says he is in favour of participation of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the upcoming election as a political party but the group that ransacked the military installations and desecrated the martyrs will have to be penalised.

He was addressing a meeting of divisional office-bearers held in Faisalabad in connection with the Oct 12, 1999, episode when Gen Musharraf overthrew the government led by Nawaz Sharif.

Rana Sana said Oct 12, 1999, was a dark day when martial law was imposed which was repeated on July 28, 2017.

He said: “In 2013, the whole world was saying that Pakistan was going to default, and terrorists were said to have reached Swat, but in the next four years, Nawaz controlled loadshedding and terrorism, and if by rigging the PTI had not been given power, Pakistan’s economy will have been stable.”

Rana Sanaullah dispelled the impression that Nawaz would not benefit from the Supreme Court decision, explaining that after parliamentary legislation, Nawaz’s five-year disqualification period had been fulfilled, rendering him eligible.

“I am in favour of participation of PTI in the next election but the group that destroyed the defence installations and desecrated the martyrs will have to be punished,” he said.

PML-N leader Khurram Dastagir said a dictator forcibly removed Nawaz in an unconstitutional manner in 1999, which marked the beginning of numerous challenges for Pakistan.

However, when Nawaz took office again on June 5, 2013, the nation witnessed a significant improvement. Inflation rates decreased, and the longstanding issue of terrorism was brought under control, Dastgir said.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2023