LAHORE: A central leader of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik says the PML-N government's policies are leading the country to economic collapse, after which the possibility of a "revolution" cannot be ruled out. Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, the party's secretary general, said while talking to a group of journalists yesterday that the Sharifs had made deep penetration in all walks of life and this factor always played a more important role in their victory in elections. If they were not checked, they would use all fair and unfair means to win the 2018 general elections, he said.

The PAT and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had staged an unprecedented sit-in in Islamabad last year to seek the ouster of the PML-N government. However, the initiative failed to yield the desired results as the army chief at his three-hour talks with Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan had urged them to drop the demand for the prime minister's resignation. In lieu of such a flexibility, the COAS had assured them that he would get their remaining five demands met. Qadri and Imran did not agree.

The army's opposition to the call for the resignation of the prime minister changed the atmosphere and the 'political cousins' had to return home empty-handed. The first two phases of the local government elections in Punjab held after a gap of about 10 years have further strengthened the position of the PML-N and no party in the foreseeable future will be able to replace it in the country's biggest province. The PAT secretary general said the PML-N government must go and the political system should be revamped. For this purpose, he said, the army should also play its role within the limits of the Constitution.

Gandapur alleged that the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister always put their personal business interests before the national interests, an approach that must be reversed. The two brothers, he said, used their power to promote their family interests. To further strengthen their rule, he said, they also developed an unholy alliance with Zardari’s PPP. “Sharifs have given Sindh to Zardari and asked him not to interfere in Punjab (which is the PML-N's domain)”. He said the ruling family had closed all doors to change through democratic means.

“Judiciary, civil bureaucracy, police and politicians all are in their (Sharifs) pocket. They influence the whole system,” he added. He said at a time army’s officers and jawans are sacrificing their lives in war against terror the rulers are busy in promoting their own businesses. "Don’t you see the clear clash of interest? One is serving the country and the other serving the family. You can meet the army men on western border and feel their anger and hate for the rulers.” Talking about LG polls in Punjab which the ruling PML-N almost swept, the PAT leader said the results were not reflective of Sharifs’ popularity. “Nobody can challenge them in the prevailing circumstances and they will certainly manage to win next general election,” he said.

Gandapur was critical of the mega projects being set up by the government and said long term borrowing was not a solution to economic problems of any country. He also opposed change in the CPEC route. He alleged the route had been gerrymandered just to link business centers, industry and lands of the ruling family. He said Imran Khan was once a serious threat to the Sharifs but the situation had drastically changed with the vested interests and greedy people joining the PTI. Now, he said, the PTI was just like any other party. Gandapur said the PAT would continue its struggle for creating political awareness and education among the people. He said his party would never forgive and forget the killers of PAT workers in Model Town tragedy. He alleged the prime minister and Punjab chief minister were involved in killings of his party’s workers.