LAHORE
The people of Pakistan consider Nawaz Sharif – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo – as the last hope and he would rescue Pakistan from the turbulent times, said senior party leaders Saturday as the former prime minister will land in Pakistan next week on Oct 21.
Talking to reports after appearing before an Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore alongwith another PML-N leader and former federal minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Javed Latif who is considered to be one of the diehard supporter of Nawaz Sharif, said it was the three-time prime minister who had made Pakistan a nuclear power and tackled the terrorism and loadshedding crises.
Both the PML-N leaders appeared in the ATC to attend the hearing of anti-state speeches case registered against them.
“When Nawaz became the prime minister in 1997, he made the country’s defence invincible by exploding nukes,” he said, and added, “And when he became the prime minister for the third time in 2013 he rid the country of loadshedding and terrorism,” Javed Latif said.
He said that the friendly nations trusted Nawaz only – an apparent reference to the fact that the PML-N supremo chose Saudi Arabia as his first destination before returning to the country. He is scheduled to reach the United Arab Emirates from where he will fly back home.
Even now, Latif said, he would put the country back on path to progress.
Speaking on the occasion, in an apparent reference to PTI leaders who are presently in jail, former information minister and PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said that those who had filed what she called false cases against their political opponents were now facing The Almighty Allah’s wrath.
She alleged that they both were implicated in a false case by the last PTI government. “Unfortunately, we are appearing in the court in the same case which had been registered against us under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” she said.
Marriyum was of the view that inflation in the country was due to the policies of the PTI government since it was that government which had struck a deal with the IMF, and later backed out of it.
“On the contrary, Nawaz Sharif-led government of PDM parties, during 16-month period, saved the country from default,” she claimed, and added, “Whenever Nawaz Sharif became the country’s prime minister, inflation came down.”
Former minister went on to say that Nawaz would announce his government’s economic policy during his speech at Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park after returning from London.
He said that even those who had created obstacles in the way of Nawaz’s ascent to power were now realizing their mistake.
Earlier the ATC, during the hearing of the case, distributed copies of challan among both PML-N leaders and said both would be indicted on the next date of hearing.
ATC judge Abhar Gul Khan heard the case.
Earlier the court had rejected the police’s request for disposal of the case.
An FIR had been registered against the PML-N leaders at Green Town police station of Lahore in 2022.
The court then adjourned the case’s hearing until October 23.
Earlier in April, Nawaz and his daughter had spent weeks in the kingdom where he reportedly discussed matters related to mutual concerns with a special focus on the economic and political crises being faced by Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stressed that the right to govern was of the party voted into power by the people.
The PML-N leader said Nawaz didn’t flee from courts and prison, she remarked, adding that he would fix the state of affairs yet again.
She recalled that cases had been initiated against them during the PTI chairman’s stint in the government and those currently in jail were facing the wrath of Almighty Allah.
Marriyum said that Shehbaz Sharif during his 16-month government saved the country from defaulting like Sri Lanka. “The country [now] needs Nawaz Sharif. He will return on Oct 21 and share his vision,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has decided to arrange another massive power show in Lahore tomorrow ahead of the homecoming of its supremo Nawaz Sharif on October 21.
The PML-N has decided to hold a giant rally in the suburban area of Mustafabad on Kasur Road Lalyani on Sunday (tomorrow).
PML-N Vice President and former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif will address the gathering.
Party Senior Vice President and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz will participate in various conventions in Model Town, Lahore before October 21.
However, she will participate in other workers’ conventions to be held in different cities via video link. She will also address the participating workers.
