GUJRAT, May 4: Sixteen-hour power outages are enough to refute the lofty claims being made through big advertisements by the parties which ruled for five years, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday.

Speaking at a public meeting in Mandi Bahauddin on Saturday evening, he claimed the PML-N would change the country’s fate by bringing prosperity and overcoming the energy crisis, illiteracy and unemployment.

He termed the support of youths the real asset of his party and said their role was vital for the national growth and they should get ready for the new challenges because the national goals had to be achieved in a limited time.

He said the PML-N had provided employment opportunities to the youths in the past and would continue to do so after coming to through the coming elections.

He asked the people of Mandi Bahauddin to ensure victory of PML-N’s candidates and said he would visit the city again to thank them after winning the elections. He said Mandi Bahauddin will be linked to the motorway and problems of the people of the area would be solved.

Mr Sharif arrived at the venue very late and made a very brief speech.

Police baton-charged PML-N workers when they tried to go towards the stage.

The district was earlier considered to be a stronghold of the PPP but this time the PML-N has been working hard to get good results from there. Former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif also visited Malakwal tehsil last week to address a public meeting for the PML-N’s candidate for NA 109.

However, the party is facing a revolt from its ranks in NA 108 following the leaders’ decision of awarding the ticket to Mumtaz Tarrar. PML-N’s district president Mushtaq Ahmed Dewan and former MNA Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry left the party and are now contesting for PP 116 and NA 108 as independent candidates.

Mr Tarrar, PML-N candidate for NA 109 Nasir Iqbal Bosal, PP 116 candidate Hameeda Waheeduddin and Tariq Yaqoob Rizvi, who is in the run for PP 117, attended Saturday’s public meeting.