FAISALABAD - PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Sunday set 9-day deadline for the government inquiry into the memorandum allegedly sent by Ambassador Hussain Haqqani sent to Admiral Mike Mullen, or he would file a petition in the Supreme Court, with all federating units plus AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan as co-petitioners. In his 50-minute address to a huge public meeting at Dhobi Ghaat, he told the audience to get ready to play their role as the movement against the rulers was about to enter what he called a decisive phase. Party leaders from other provinces were also present at the public meeting, which, apparently, was aimed at showing PML-Ns popularity to the PTI, which was taking itself as an alternative to both the parties of Mr Sharif and President Zardari after its well-attended public meeting at Minar-i-Pakistan on October 30. The former prime minister targeted the PPP and the PTI, explained his partys point of view on various issues and promised 'free loans to the unemployed youth, who feel attracted to Imran Khan as an emerging political force. He also criticized the government for 'inviting US role to reinin the army, but at the same time made it clear that the army had no role to play in politics. He said the games of intelligence agencies should come to an end. Opposition leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan advised the PTI chief that instead of leveling baseless allegations against the PML-N leadership about their assets, he should accompany them to the apex court to have the question of assets and taxes decided there. He said the PML-N and the PTI should give their respective points of view to the highest court and then let it give its verdict. Preparations for the public meeting were made over the past few weeks. The participants had come from other cities as well. Mr Sharifs speech was punctuated by slogans and Allama Iqbals poetry. The PML-N chief said his party would not remain part of the assembly which had no say in important national issues. Holding the president and the prime minister responsible for bartering away the countrys sovereignty, Mr Sharif recalled that both had appreciated the US commandoes attack on Abbottabad on May 2, in which Osama Bin Laden was killed. Such leaders, he said, could not safeguard Pakistans sovereignty. Making an obvious reference to Imran Khans recent interview in which he said Kashmir issue should be put on backburner to promote ties with India in other fields the former prime minister said this was not the right approach. Why should the Kashmir dispute be put on the backburner? he asked. On a number of issues he compared his own conduct with that of the present rulers or Gen Musharrafs. He said when the Abbottabad operation took place, all leaders were trembling. Similarly, he said, after the 9/11 attacks when the then US Secretary of State made a phone call to then President Musharraf, the latter gave in within no time. He recalled that he had rejected US president Bill Clintons $5billion aid offer and had carried out six nuclear tests to settle score with India, which had exploded five devices. Mr Sharif said Pakistan had made tremendous progress in all fields during the PML-N rule and, if voted to power again, would put the country on path to prosperity. Alluding to Mr Imran Khans pledge to bring about a change in the country, the PML-N chief said I dont know when you will bring the change; we already have brought it about. He dismissed PTI chiefs repeated assertions that the PML-N and the PPP had a secret understanding on taking turns in power, and said had it been so, he would not have parted ways with President Zardari when he failed to honour his commitments. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan alleged that Mr Khan had earned hundreds of millions of rupees during the past 20 years, but had failed to pay taxes. Similarly, he said, the PTI chief did not pay any taxes on the plots he had got from the federal and provincial governments. The preacher of honesty should let the nation know how he was living in a palace worth Rs 120 billion, said the opposition leader in the National Assembly. He said if both the PTI and the PML-N went to the apex court, it would become clear which party had the black money. He likened Imran Khan to a bubble, ballooned by someone else. Without naming anyone but leaving no doubt that he was referring to the intelligence agencies, the PML-N leader said those 'inflating Imran Khan should keep in mind the problems facing the people. He said his party had no dispute with the army. Instead, he said, it held it in high esteem, but not the generals who 'capture power, occupy television stations, handcuff the prime ministers. About the ISI, he said, it was a national institution and the PML-N wanted to see it strong enough to serve as a deterrent to the enemy. Well not accept an ISI involved in horse trading or breaking up the parties. He defended Mr Sharif as an honest leader, whose family had been held accountable during the tenures of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Gen Pervez Musharraf. He said riddance from President Zardari was a must to save the country. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Abid Sher Ali and some others also addressed.