Lahore, January 11: The Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif, has said that the days of dirty politics are now over and no experiments should be carried out anymore.
Talking to reporters after presiding over a party meeting in Raiwind on Monday, he said a four-member committee had been formed to work with the government for the implementation of his 10-point agenda within 45 days. He claimed he did not give any ultimatum to the government.
He said he merely gave proposals for the progress and prosperity of the country, and he considered the word ulimatum as sign of arrogance. Nawaz said the word ultimatum did not even exist in his dictionary. He said his party did not believe in politics of blackmailing or horse-trading. Nawaz alleged that the media exaggerated his last week’s press conference, while he just wanted the government to respond to his demands in ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and the government responded positively.
Nawaz said the committee would be headed by Senator Ishaq Dar and consist of Sardar Rashid and Abdul Qadir Baloch. “The committee will hand over the 10-point agenda to the government and overlook the government progress on it,” he added.
Terming his agenda the beginning of revolution in the country, he said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that any opposition party had offered the government support without caring for its personal interests.
About the appointment of the Punjab governor, Nawaz said the prime minister did not consult him so far. He said the PML-N had never made any demand for mid-term polls. Nawaz said the country was passing through a critical phase economically and politically. He expressed the hope that his 10-point agenda would steer the country out of crises.
He said the government withdrew increase in petroleum prices and accepted the PML-N’s reforms agenda; therefore, his party would fully support the government for implementation of the national agenda.
He demanded the government end gas and power loadshedding, replace corrupt officials with honest ones and implement the Supreme Court verdicts on NRO and other issues. “The size of the cabinet should be reduced and the government expenditures should be cut by 30 percent,” he added.
He said after implementation of 18th Amendment, the premier had become powerful and could implement the PML-N agenda. He said the PML-N would decide its future course of action after 45 days. The PML-N chief said the sovereignty of the country was being challenged, as the international media was terming Pakistan a dangerous place on the earth.
Agencies add: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Senator Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Khwaja Muhammad Asif and Khwaja Saad Rafique were also present on the occasion.
Expressing his concern over lawlessness, unemployment, corruption and other problems being faced by the country, Nawaz said: “Had his party become part of any puppet show, the system would have collapsed”. He demanded the government restructure the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as public sector departments including PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills, Railways, OGDC, NHA, CAA, Pepco, KPT as well as CDA, eradicate tax-leakage from the FBR and introduce a policy to cut down prices of the essential commodities.
He demanded the government to bring the culprits of Haj, sugar and Agosta submarine scandals to book, adding that the BoP, NICL offenders should also be brought to justice by establishing an independent accountability commission.
He said the PML-N would never let Pakistan become unstable, adding it was willing to be called a ‘friendly opposition’ for the prosperity and solidarity of the country. Nawaz said loadshedding was a gift from the previous government, which completed its tenure under the patronage of martial law regime. He said a dictator played havoc with the country’s economy in the name of reforms. The PML-N chief said he was giving the last chance to the government to improve and ameliorate the situation, as masses were fed up with the situation.