LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) credit for substantial progress in different fields, including education, health, economy, infrastructure and energy. In a statement on Monday, the chief minister said that development projects carried out in the tenure of Nawaz Sharif were a glowing example of transparency, quality and speed. “Nawaz Sharif came into power through the power of vote. He rules the hearts of the people and he is the populous leader in Pakistan,” said the chief minister while heaping praise on his elder brother and ousted prime minister. He said that those who had failed to perform in provinces where they were in power would face nothing but embarrassment for raising baseless allegations against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. “The defeated elements will have to reap tomorrow what they are sowing today.” Shehbaz said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had always given priority to national interest and adopted positive approach in the politics. “Speedy development of the country and welfare of the people is the agenda of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. It is important to note that PML-N has set a record of completing development projects with speed and transparency. On the other side, the political opponents have set international records of falsehood and baseless allegations.” He went on to say that a handful of politicians were hell-bent on derailing the development process in the country and advised them not to indulge in negative politics. “We shall make the country even better as every step of our life is meant for the public welfare.” He said that conscious people of Pakistan had rejected negative politics based on hypocrisy and deceit. “The politicians responsible for sit-ins and lockdown hatched a nefarious conspiracy to obstruct the development process and tremendously damaged the country by wasting precious time of the nation,” she said in a veiled yet apparent reference to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He reiterated that those opposing development process were not well-wisher of Pakistan. Separately, the chief minister Monday expressed sorrow over the sad demise of poet Riaz Hussain Chaudhary, a presidential award winner poet. In a condolence message, the chief minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and grant of courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. Published in Daily Times, August 8th 2017.