SWAT/PESHAWAR  -  PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif claimed on Friday that his party would form governments at the centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the next general elections.

Addressing a press conference after offering fateha for departed soul of Haroon Bilour at Bilour House in Peshawar, the PML-N chief said Amir Muqam would be the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if his party is voted to power. He stressed the need for free and transparent elections to put the country on the road to progress and prosperity.

Shehbaz claimed that several PML-N electables had been forced to switch their loyalties and this was tantamount to pre-poll rigging. He said that hundreds of PML-N activists were booked at the time of arrival of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on July 13. He said that fake cases were registered against PML-N workers who held a peaceful rally on July 13. He said that Nawaz was not allowed to see his ailing mother just because he had raised voice for respect to the vote and mandate of people.

Shehbaz said that events arranged by the PML-N to welcome Nawaz at the Lahore airport were almost blacked out by the media at the behest of some forces. He said the PML-N was not being given a level playing field in Punjab.

Giving his future line of action after the July 25 general elections, Shehbaz said his party’s government would bring Pakistan on a par with Turkey and Malaysia through reforms and economic policies. He criticised the PTI for not carrying out development work in Peshawar. He said that PTI chief Imran Khan was addressing public gatherings with thin attendance in cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. This speaks volumes about his popularity in these provinces, he said.

The PML-N chief said the caretaker Punjab government was dancing to the tunes of the PTI and the caretaker Punjab chief minister and interior minister were mere puppets in the hands of PTI. Had a scam like Peshawar metro happened in Punjab, he said, the accountability watchdog would have banished the PML-N leaders from Pakistan.

Shehbaz said the blue-eyed person (the PTI chief) had been given absolute freedom to carry out any type of campaign, while PML-N workers were being pinned under charges of terrorism. He said that PML-N workers were just practicing their democratic right to political association and assembly.

Even a couple of days before the general elections, NAB is busy pushing PML-N leaders and workers to the wall to give the PTI an unassailable advantage in the elections, he said. He said that all corrupt politicians had joined the PTI, but people of Pakistan were with the PML-N. If there is any attempt to steal mandate of people, people’s reaction would be extremely dangerous for the country.

“Kalsoom Nawaz is still on the ventilator. Nawaz has been sentenced to 10-year imprisonment. He might never be able to see his wife again. If he were to think selfishly, he would rather stay back with his wife, but he came back to empower people and get respect for the vote although he knew he would be jailed,” he said.

PML-N KP President Amir Muqam was also present on the occasion.

Later, addressing party workers’ convention in Mingora, Swat, Shehbaz claimed the Peshawar High Court had exposed embezzlement of funds in Peshawar Metro Bus Project. He called into question award of the project’s contract to a blacklisted company by the KP government. He quoted PTI Chairman Imran Khan as saying, “The PTI will eliminate corruption from the country.” However, he said, Peshawar Metro Project had emerged as a mega corruption project.

Shehbaz accused Imran of getting Rs300 billion debt and embezzling a huge amount. He said that Imran did nothing for people of KP province. He went on to say that the caretaker government was creating hurdles in former ruling party’s electioneering.

Shehbaz stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan remained silent as the National Accountability Bureau pushed his party to the wall. He, however, warned of consequences in case results of the general elections are tampered.

Shehbaz claimed the PTI had failed to complete even a single project in KP. Concluding his address, the PML-N leader promised to build a model hospital and an educational institution in Malakand division, make Swat a model tourist spot and develop the district on the lines of development in Lahore.

 

 

PML-N to form next govt, claims Shehbaz

 

OUR STAFF REPORTER/AGENCIES