News
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Grand alliance against PPP inevitable: Nawaz
* PML-N chief says govt has failed to resolve problems facing people * Battalion of rigging was unleashed in AJK polls * Money from BISP funds distributed to win polls
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, on Saturday, called for forging a grand alliance to get rid of the incumbent government, asserting that it has failed to address the problems facing the people.
“In the present situation when the government is meting out the worst treatment to the nation, it is essential to get rid of the rulers,” said the former premier, adding that “no reconciliation process will be allowed to come on the way to the alliance”.
Talking to journalists, the PML-N chief said, “We had signed the charter of democracy (CoD). But we met disappointment on every step.” He said that formation of a grand opposition against the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had become “inevitable”. He also ruled out the possibility of any reconciliatory step by the government, saying, “It deceived us at every stage.”
The government, claimed Nawaz, was responsible for the sheer poverty and unemployment. “It did not honour its promises. Tricks were played and no problem was resolved.” He regretted that over 70 million people had been living below the poverty line because of the government’s ill-conceived policies.
Earlier, the former premier, at a meeting of the provincial coordination committee of PML-N Balochistan, while expressing concern over not handing over the resources of departments to the provinces, devolved under the 18th Amendment, alleged that it was a violation of the constitution. He lamented that the PPP government was hindering transfer of resources to the provinces and the process of devolution of seven ministries to them was the worst example.
“The responsibilities of the departments have been given to the provinces but the PPP government has withheld resources of the departments,” Nawaz claimed, and said that injustice had caused immense loss to Pakistan in the past. He held that the constitution granted rights to all units of the federation and guaranteed the provision of resources to the people.
Nawaz also said that it was the priority of the PML-N to provide relief to Balochistan that had played a significant role in the prosperity and defence of Pakistan. “We have to satisfy to people of Balochistan at all cost to heal their wounds,” he averred, saying, “People are being whisked away in Balochistan. An inquiry should be held into all such incidents and responsibility should be fixed. Those found responsible be penalised.”
To a media query about the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president statement that there was no need of inquiry into the Abbottabad incident, Nawaz said that Chaudhry Shujaat’s statement was illogical.
About the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, the PML-N chief said in the AJK polls not only rigging but a battalion of rigging was unleashed. “The PPP distributed money among the people out of the Benazir Income Support Programme and polled votes this way,” he alleged.
In reply to a question about the drone attacks, he blamed the government for allowing the US to conduct Predator attacks in the country’s tribal belt. “Rulers are deceiving the people,” he said. agenciesCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk