State above the state is root cause of Pakistan’s problems: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: PML-N quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif said that state above the state had become the root cause of Pakistan’s problems.

The PM leader made the remarks while attending a multiparty conference being hosted by Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the federal capital via video link.

This was Nawaz Sharif’s first political engagement after the 2018 general elections.

“I am thankful to the organisers of the conference for giving me the opportunity to talk. Even though I am away from my country, I know very well what condition the country and the people are in. I believe this is a decisive turn; it is necessary to protect democracy […] and take fearless decisions.”

Sharif said: “Imran Khan is not our target. Our struggle is against those who brought Imran Khan in power.”

He highlighted the “poor state” of Pakistan’s economy, “deteriorating” international relations, “muzzling” of media and “corruption within the PTI and Bani Gala”.

“The basic issue was the stealing of people’s mandate. While dictators ruled for 9 years each, elected prime ministers were sent home on the average in about 30 months,” Sharif said.

“If we don’t do it [take a step] today, when will we?” asked Nawaz, who has been in the UK since November last year for medical treatment.

“I agree with Maulana [Fazlur Rehman, chief of JUI-F] that we need to make this conference purposeful or people will be disappointed.

“Pakistan has been constantly deprived from a democratic system […] When the vote is dishonoured, the entire democratic system becomes meaningless. When it is decided before the election process as to who will win and who will lose, then it can be guessed how the public is betrayed and how the public’s mandate is stolen.”

Pakistan has become a laboratory of “such experiments”, added Nawaz. “Every child knows that no prime minister has been allowed to complete five years in power.”

All dictators have spent multiple years while premiers have hardly been allowed to complete their term, he said.

“When a dictator was first brought into the courtroom for violating the Constitution, you saw what happened. Court gave dictators the right to play with the Constitution and acquitted someone who broke the Constitution twice […] Whereas the ones who follow the Constitution are still in jail.”

Sharif said that the incompetment government had angered our foreign friends such as Saudi Arabia. “Who had authorized Shah Mahmood Qureshi to criticize the OIC. Pakistan was a founding member of the OIC. We should work to improve its performance not to criticize it.”

Well done MNS, well done! ??
You amply demonstrated today why Pakistan needs you. We are all very proud of you. The tone has been set. Opposition MUST capitalise on it. Historic speech. Masha’Allah.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 20, 2020

Bold & Brilliant speech by Mian Sahib at the All Parties Conference today captures the mood of the moment with his hand on the popular pulse! Mian sb’s best speech since his landmark turning point speech of April 17, 1993, when he famously announced: “I will not take dictation”! pic.twitter.com/2aZyVBtDW7

— Mushahid Hussain (@Mushahid) September 20, 2020

I urge the youth of Pakistan to carefully listen to MNS’s speech today. He is diagnosing with precision and courage what exactly is wrong with & plagues Pak and why the country is where it is and why it needs to be addressed & redressed.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 20, 2020

The APC is likely to have a new Charter of Democracy like agreement. APC will also consult upon forming a formal ARD-esque alliance and there will be a written agreement for the implementation of APC decisions, sources claimed.

Moments before the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto in a tweet, said that two years of ‘selected’ experiment have disastrous consequences for Pakistan. Today Pakistan’s opposition parties will unite to hold this regime to account.”

He added Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has destroyed democracy, economy and foreign policy. Democracy is the best revenge, he added.

The opposition’s all parties conference against the government today will propose a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar, sources said.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will propose the motion in the APC. In the first phase of the movement, there will be a no-confidence motion and rallies will be conducted. The APC will have suggestions from all members, however, the final declaration will be unanimous.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also finalized its recommendations for APC.

According to sources, PML-N will present suggestion of midterm elections, public processions in November to send government packing, combined fund for anti-government campaign and weekly protests outside assemblies.

Sources also claimed that Maryam Nawaz was included into 11 member delegation to rebuff the reports of division in the party. The delegation will be led by Opposition Leader of National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has suggested that former Prime Minister and PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to address the All Parties Conference (APC) as no major decision will be taken in the conference.

Speaking exclusively on Dunya News program “Ikhtalafi Note”, the Federal Minister for Railways said that he was in favor of showing the speeches of fugitives involved in money laundering.

He said the final decision will be made by the government. I was in favor of sending Nawaz Sharif out of country and I think whoever wants to go abroad should be allowed to leave.