GUJRANWALA: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was warmly welcomed to the city by the people of Gujranwala, local party leaders, workers and other citizens who had gathered on GT Road in large numbers and chanted slogans in favour of the ousted leader. All the prominent figures of PML(N) Gujranwala including federal minister for defence engineer Khuram Dastgir Khan, MNAs Usman Ibrahim, Mehmood Bashir Virk, Shazia Sohail Mir, Mian Tariq, MPAs Toufeeq Butt, Imran Khalid Butt, Ashraf Ansari, Nawaz Chohan, Pir Ghulam Fareed, Abdul Rauf Mughal, youth wing president Shoaib Butt and others received their leader at Gujranwala. While addressing the gathering ousted prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that millions of people had voted to elect their leader but unfortunately few hand conspired to overthrow the democratic government. Nawaz said, “I don’t expect you to reinstate me, but I want you to support me for the betterment of this country,” he said, adding, “I ask you to pledge today that you will not let your mandate be disgraced again, Mian asked the gathering to make promise with me that you should join me when I call you, and I want the people to be with Nawaz Sharif. He said until the mandate of the people was respected, Pakistan couldn’t make progress. “We have to make sure that the mandate of the people is respected in the future, we have to make sure no conspiracy against an elected prime minister succeeds in the future, we have to make sure that nobody dares in future to send an elected government home in a matter of seconds and we will do it in the best interest of the people and the country. He said there are no allegations of corruption against me but honourable judges sent me home. Do you agree with their decision? Nawaz further said “It happened with me for the third time. Is this not an insult to your vote?” He said this gathering here serves as a referendum and the court of the people of Pakistan has given its verdict in my favour. The people have not accepted the court decision against me, it implies that the entire country has rejected court decision against me. Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the death of a child by vehicle of his caravan and said he soon will visit the house of deceased child and heirs will be accommodated all kind of help. Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2017.