Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said it is the pre-election routine that opportunists ally themselves according to their individual interests but those who are filled with the passion of public-service and loyalty are firmly standing like a solid rock by facing every sort of pressure.

Those who have talked about 11 points consisting of education, health and agriculture in Lahore rally should first account for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chief Imran Khan has now realized about the public but where was he five years ago? The people will bury the politics of falsehood, lies, deceit, allegations and sit-in once and for all in the elections of 2018.

He stated this while addressing a meeting of members of parliament and party workers belonging to Multan and Bahawalpur divisions in Islamabad on Monday.

PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers, PML-N leaders, Hamza Shehbaz Shehbaz, Maryam Nawaz and other party office-bearers were present on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz said that Imran Khan’s 2018 meeting was a failure from every respect as compared to the gathering of 2011. The participation of locals was negligible and public passion was also missing. In this meeting, only the aspiring candidates of tickets brought the people along which is a proof of Khan’s unsuccessful politics. Shehbaz said that due to the sit-ins, lockdown, civil disobedience and politics of anarchy, the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan was postponed. Resultantly, mega projects were delayed and obstructions were created in the development process. He said that Nawaz Sharif rejected the offer of former US president Bill Clinton to the tune of $5 billion and showed valour and bravery by making six explosions in response to five atomic explosions. He made the national defense impregnable and the country achieved the goal of development under his vision. He disclosed that Nawaz was advised that this amount can be utilised for national development but he replied that such a development was meaningless when national defense was not strengthened and Pakistan couldn’t equally talk to India.

The chief minister said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project began under the leadership of Nawaz. In addition to it, Sahiwal Coal Power Plant, 1,300-megawatt power project at Port Qasim and completion of similar energy projects in the record period of time are achievements which have helped solve the national problems. He said that Nawaz has tremendously served the nation adding that his bravery, courage and determination will bear fruits and the party will achieve wonderful successes in the elections. Despite many hiccups and uncertain situations, the Gross Domestic Product growth ratio has remained 5.8 percent. It is the highest during the last 13 years, he added. Meanwhile, agriculture sector has shown a growth rate of 3.8 percent. It has been made possible due to provision of subsidised fertilisers, interest-free loans and subsidy on electrical agri tubewells, he added.

The CM said that 2018 belonged to PML-N and added that the party will achieve success due to its public service records. He talked about his visits to Karachi, Peshawar and Mardan and said that the people of Karachi have thanked Nawaz for bringing back peace in their cities. The people said that they are thankful to him and will never forget this benefaction. He said that he has been welcomed at every point during his visits to Peshawar and Mardan and added that people in both the provinces are disappointed of the leadership of Pakistan People’s Party and PTI as they have done nothing in their respective provinces, adding that PML-N’s workers and leaders are united and the party will win the elections with thumping majority.

The CM said that Khan lied day and night and leveled allegations; now the nation will hold him accountable for his deeds, adding that Khan claimed in a meeting that he will never lie but he has set records of lies during the last five years and added that the nation will take stock of his performance now.

Shehbaz has also proactively worked for a speedy completion of energy projects, he concluded.

Shehbaz also inaugurated the first state-of-the-art pathology lab at District Headquarters Hospital, Layyah on Monday.

As much as 436 tests of 43 categories will be conducted in this lab. He inspected different sections and put up queries about the holding of tests. North Shore Medical Lab of the US will administer this lab.

Shehbaz said that workers had rendered invaluable sacrifices for their rights in Chicago in May 1886 and added that Labour Day reminds us about the martyrs of Chicago and their struggle against oppression and tyranny.

Published in Daily Times, May 1^st 2018.