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Sarwar refutes reports of joining PTI, denies being part of ‘London plan’
LAHORE: Former Punjab governor Chaudhary Sarwar said on Sunday that reports claiming that he is joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are baseless.
“I was never a PML-N member, and the Punjab governor’s post given to me was ceremonial,” he said during a media talk. He made it clear that he wasn’t establishing any political party. “I will continue serving people in my individual and private capacity,” he added. He informed that he was not leaving the country permanently, adding he would return to Pakistan in some days. “I am going London on a one-way ticket, I will come back.”
Sarwar said he took the decision to resign as governor after complete consideration and thought. He said his nationality will remain Pakistani and he would not give it up to reside in any other country. “We are facing serious issue of terrorism, hence any politics of confrontation is not favourable at all,” he said. The former governor clarified that he had no rift with Shahbaz Sharif or any other PML-N member.
He asked why do leaders who visit foreign countries don’t implement their system in Pakistan. Sarwar said Pakistani institutions should follow the system working in place abroad. He said he is hopeful that the situation in Pakistan will get better after devolution of power.
The former governor rejected the notion that he was part of a ‘London plan’, further stating that if allegations were proven against him, then he was prepared to face any punishment. Sarwar said that henceforth he would have no ties with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Sarwar said that 95 percent of the Pakistani people are under the control of 5 percent of the population. He also said that it would not be fair to blame only politicians for the situation. Replying to a question, he said that he would not try to apply for British citizenship again and that from now on his life was only to serve Pakistan.
He called the people of Pakistan courageous, who had proven themselves during every difficult period. Regarding his future in politics, Sarwar said that he would decide after consulting with his friends.
The former governor had resigned on Thursday, over what he said was a failure to achieve what he had set out to do. He had lamented that the land mafia had more power in the country than a sitting governor. The government accepted his resignation, with Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Iqbal having taken over as acting governor.
Sarwar had criticised the civil bureaucracy, saying they enjoyed each and every perk and privilege in the country but had contributed nothing to the nation in the last 68 years. He had further said that polite methods to make the civil bureaucracy realise its duty had failed and now the only option left was to teach them through the use of “baton”. The governor had said Washington should have given equal importance to New Delhi and Islamabad while making its policies for the region. He said Obama should have used the opportunity to normalise tensions in Indo-Pak ties.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk