LAHORE  -  In reminiscent of his 2013 election-day statement, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif Thursday opposed the idea of a coalition government after the polls insisting that one party should get a complete mandate to overcome the coun­try’s problems. 

“For God’s sake, don’t even talk about a coali­tion government. The coming government should get a complete mandate so that it is not re­liant on other parties [to take important decisions]”, he said while talking to the media after casting his vote in NA-128, Lahore, the con­stituency left open by the PML-N for IPP candidate Awn Chaudhry under a seat adjustment reached be­tween the two parties before the elections. 

Mian Nawaz Sharif was asked if he saw a coalition government in the making after the poll results. He re­plied that if the country’s problems are to be resolved, one party should get a com­plete mandate.

It is worth recalling here that back in 2013, Mian Nawaz Sharif made a con­troversial statement around 11 pm after the polling, de­manding a full mandate for his party. However, this time, the statement came while the polling was still underway. He spoke about a majority man­date for one political party without explicitly naming any.

Also, the statement by Mian Nawaz Sharif is not in con­sonance with that of Mian Shehbaz Sharif made the other day in which he ac­knowledged the possibili­ty of a coalition government after the poll results. Sheh­baz Sharif had stated that in case of a coalition govern­ment, the next prime min­ister would be chosen with consensus considering the opinion of other parties. 

Asked about Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s role in the centre and Punjab, Nawaz Sharif said the party would take a decision after the elec­tion results. “I am not to take this decision alone. Party will decide [about it] after the poll results”, he said.

Nawaz, however, laud­ed Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s struggle and services for the party in difficult times. But, at the same time, Nawaz also mentioned the sacrifices of Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Ham­za Shehbaz and other party leaders, saying that they also underwent imprisonment besides him. 

“We have reached this day because of these sacrifices. It hasn’t come without sac­rifices,” he emphasised. The PML-N leader urged the vot­ers to come out in large num­bers and exercise their right to vote to change the exist­ing culture of abuse, name calling and arrogance. He vowed to undo this culture and alleviate the hardships in people’s lives by curbing inflation. APP ads: Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on Thursday cast their vote in constituen­cy NA-128 (Lahore-XII).

Later, talking to media he appealed to people to come out and practice their right to vote wisely. Vote was vital to end the culture of hatred, he added. He said that all out ef­forts would be made to over­come inflation and other challenges facing the country.

Responding to a question, he said that PML-N’s mani­festo was very comprehen­sive and aimed at strength­ening different sectors. To another question, he said that Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz had faced impris­onment and Maryam stood with party in difficult times. He said, “For God’s sake don’t talk about coalition govern­ment.” To a question he said that majority of a single party was very important to solve the problems of the country.