Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Imran Khan and other opposition politicians were engaged in politics of allegation, leg pulling and had not done anything for welfare of the masses.

Speaking at a ceremony after inaugurating the renovation of Bab-e-Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif said that if the masses re-elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in next general election, it would initiate development projects in Karachi and Peshawar as it had started in Lahore. “We will bring Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces in par with Punjab,” he said.

The CM said that if given the opportunity, the PML-N would complete the Peshawar Metro Bus Project within a year.

He criticized the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for failure to recover the looted money and claimed that PML-N would bring back the plundered national wealth whether it was in Swiss banks or any other foreign country.

Shehbaz further stated that he will quit politics if corruption of a single penny was proved against him.

“Imran Khan leveled serious allegations against me, but failed to respond when he was served a legal notice. The flop rally at The Mall was a slap on the face of the joint opposition,” he said.

The Bab-e-Pakistan project at Walton Road will be completed at 117 acres of land and will cost more than Rs 4 billion. It will have an auditorium, food court, sports complex, art gallery, lake and playgrounds “We are standing at that historical place of Bab-e-Pakistan which reminds us of the unending struggle of the great leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions. They crossed the river of blood to create Pakistan,” he said.

“On October 12, 1999, when Gen Musharraf toppled the democratic government, this project was handed over to the Punjab government, who had made it the graveyard of corruption. We are trying to undo the wrongs committed by the previous government. Today, we have started the reconstruction of this project. It will be the greatest project of Lahore. It will have playground for youth and will commemorate the workers of Tehreek-e-Pakistan. It will be similar to the Greater Iqbal Park. This project will play a proactive role to highlight the struggles and sacrifices of Tehreek-e-Pakistan,” he said.

“A few days ago, a great drama was staged at The Mall. It was attended by all political clowns. These people have plundered Pakistan with both hands as stories of corruption of Zardari sahib are known by every young and old. He was demanding my resignation,” he said.

“Qadri sahib also made speech at the drama and demanded my resignation. He announced to overthrow the government,” he said.

He said that investment of billions of rupees had been made in energy sector and there was no precedent of transparent and quick completion of projects in the history of Pakistan. He said that NAB had summoned him and he would bring real face of NAB before the media with evidences.

“NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal is expressing his love by sending me notices, but I will bring the facts before the public. I will apologize and leave if corruption of even a penny is proved, but if it is not proved you have to decide about the accusers,” he said.

Published in Daily Times, January 22^nd 2018.