'Prison must not deter one from duty

NAWABSHAH (Agencies) - The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that one should not be afraid of going to prison while fulfilling his duties. Hinting at the possibility of another martial law, President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to Benazir Abad on Thursday had asked Nawaz to be sensible and understand the gravity of the situation, warning him that either of them could end up in jail as a result of the blame-game. He also told Nawaz that instead of holding public rallies in Lahore, he should help the people hit by dengue fever and also come to Sindh to help out flood affectees. Speaking to the media at the Circuit House on Saturday during his visit to the flood-hit Nawabshah district of Sindh, Nawaz has said that he has complied with orders of Asif Ali Zardari by visiting this district and now it is presidents turn to give some time to the country. Nawaz said that has come to Nawabshah to share miseries of rain-hit people, and he called on President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to take some time out and ensure the well being of the people. It is time to forget politics and save the country, the PML-N chief said, adding that he did not came to Nawabshah for blame-game but to serve the masses. He said the government should provide every possible help it can to the flood victims. It is the duty of politicians to help those affected by the floods, he added. Criticism by President Asif Zardari against PML-N is not only surprising but is also regrettable, the PML-N leader said. President Zardari should have taken steps for the rain-hit people, he added. I have come here at his desire. Now he should spare some of his precious time for the country. He should spare some time for these poor people to whom he has been promising to provide Roti, Kapra and Makan. He should change their lives. President has to do a lot of work but we are seeing these works nowhere. He said heads of the parties dont fear prisons. If we go there, we will meet there too. Nawaz said the nation cannot tolerate bad governance anymore and the politicians must ensure a safe future for the masses of the country. It is matter of regret that a favourite person has been appointed as Accountant General despite a letter sent by Supreme Court (SC) to the president, he underlined. People had not voted them to power for they induct those who were facing charges on key posts to serve their personal interests, he said. People voted for changing the destiny of the country but nothing had been done in this respect by the rulers, he added. Nawaz said he had brought doctors and medicines along and also asked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to conduct a visit to the flood-hit areas. He said he was concerned over the prediction of more rains in the flood-affected areas, and called for measures to avoid flood damages. The PML-N chief said that all possible help would be extended to the Sindh government for the relief of the flood-affected people. He told a questioner that the PML-N was being targeted systematically but he did not come to Nawabshah to criticise the Sindh government. The Punjab government was taking all measures possible to control the spread of dengue, he said. The PML-N leader said that the Punjab government would follow the instruction of the federal government to deal with the flood and form a joint strategy with the collaboration of the Sindh government. About the Karachi situation, Nawaz said the PML-N could not tolerate violence in the city of Quaid-e-Azam. He said the real faces behind the violence in Karachi should be unmasked. He said that the PML-N would lend every sort of support to the Sindh government for establishing peace in Karachi. The former premier urged all political parties to get united for establishing peace in the beleaguered city. Nawaz said his party will break up those who are talking of dismembering Pakistan. This is not time for politicking. This is time for saving the country. I am ready to keep my politics at side for this cause. We will break up those who are talking of dismembering the country. Pakistan is not a toy that it will be broken by those in whose hands it goes to. To a question, he said any effort to sabotage the smooth functioning of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would be strongly opposed. He said that PAC Chairman Ch Nisar has exposed corruption of the present government, which is trying to hide it, but they wont allow it to happen. Rulers are making preparations to make PAC ineffective to cover up their corruption, he regretted. Such steps will be resisted fiercely, he declared. He also rejected the reports that Ch Nisar is going to resin as PAC head. He said Shahbaz Sharifs government is utilising all its energies for controlling the outbreak of dengue virus. He said medicines have been brought from abroad to control the spread of virus. Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif along with a delegation visited the flood-affected areas and distributed relief items. He told that PML-N had set up paramedical staff, medical centres in Mir Pur Khas, Nawab Shah and other areas to provide medical facility to rain-ravaged people. I am with the people of Sindh at this difficult juncture of time, he underscored. I would have been among you earlier. But President Zardari was here therefore, I did not come up here, he said. President Zardari had earlier asked the PML-N chief to spare a thought for flood victims in Sindh. If you do not want to visit Sindh because of me, visit it for the sake of the poor, marooned people of the province, the president was quoted as having written in a letter to Sharif. The president even offered Sharif his personal residence in Nawabshah for his stay in Sindh and implied that his hospitality would be a repayment in kind for Zardaris stay in Kholi (a prison), a reference to the time that Zardari was imprisoned on corruption charges (that were never proven) during the Sharif administration in the 1990s. Waqt News adds: Talking to media at Hyderabad Circuit House, Nawaz Sharif said the Karachi issue must have been brought to the Parliament before taking it to the Supreme Court. He said that certain groups want to make Karachi citizens hostage, adding that his party will provide all help to those who want to bring peace to Karachi. He said the allegation (by MQM chief) on PML-N of having arms depots is laughable. If they were to accuse PML-N, at least they should have tried some major blame, he added.

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