LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that the loud echo of the public opinion of the Lodhran election would also be heard in the 2018 general elections. Talking to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers, the CM said every constituency of Pakistan would become Lodhran in the 2018 general elections. “Niazi sahib should know very clearly that decisions are taken by thumbs of the people, not the finger of the umpire,” he said. “The PML-N government has won the hearts of the people by public service, our measures won the hearts and historic projects have been launched in the education, health, agriculture and other sectors. The country is moving on the path of economic revolution for prominent place in the international community and self-reliance. The government has taken praiseworthy measures for the social and economic uplift of the country and has created new economic opportunities due to revolutionary economic policies. We are focusing on the public service amid false allegations, adding the people support the leadership which ignored the offer of $5 billion of the US and made Pakistan the first atomic power of the Islamic world,” he said. CM Shehbaz Sharif said the PML-N rid the nation of energy crisis and the evil of loadshedding. “Those who create hurdles are not the well-wishers of the country and the nation will not forgive those who obstructed the progress and pushed the country towards problems and these elements have only promoted the politics of lies and allegations,” he said. He said those doing politics of allegations, lies and dual standards were not the well-wishers of the country. He said negative elements had shown poor performance in their province. “The people of the KP are also annoyed with those who raised empty slogans as these elements do not wish that Pakistan moves forward and problems of the people are resolved. Politics is the name of serving the nation with honesty and dedication. There will be only politics of public service now and there is no room for the politics of allegations. Selfless service of the public is his mission and he will continue discharging the duty of the public service till his last breath,” he said. Iran plane crash: Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the crash of a passenger plane in Iran. In his condolence message, the chief minister said we are standing with the people of Iran during this hour of grief and we shared sorrows of the bereaved families. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Maulana Rasheed Ludhianvi’s death: Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the death of renowned religious scholar and former chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Maulana Rasheed Ludhianvi. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He prayed that Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family. Published in Daily Times, February 19th 2018.