Page 12 - Pakistan Link - September 25, 2020

P12 – PAKISTAN LINK – SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
Struggle Not against Imran but against
Those Who Brought Him into Power
Islamabad: Addressing the much-
hyped PPP-hosted multiparty confer-
ence in Islamabad on Sunday PML-N
supremo Nawaz Sharif said that the
opposition’s struggle was not against
Prime Minister Imran Khan but
against those who brought him into
power through the 2018 elections.
He was addressing the confer-
ence, aimed at devising a strategy to
oust the PTI-led coalition govern-
ment, via video link from London.
The speech marked the deposed
prime minister’s political comeback
after more than a year. He has been in
the UK since November last year for
medical treatment.
“Our foremost priority should
be removing this selected govern-
ment and this system. Our struggle is
not against Imran Khan,” said Nawaz.
“Today, our struggle is against those
who installed Imran Khan and who
manipulated elections to bring an in-
capable man like him into power and
thus, destroyed the country.”
“If change is not brought, it will
bring irreversible loss to this country.
It is very important that our armed
forces stay away from our govern-
mental system according to our Con-
stitution and the Quaid’s speech, and
not interfere with the people’s choice.
We have made this country a joke in
our own eyes and internationally as
well.”
Prior to a recess for lunch, the
speakers — PML-N’s Nawaz and
Shehbaz Sharif and PPP’s Asif Ali
Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
— were united in underscoring the
“need for a plan of action”.
Nawaz started by thanking PPP
chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
for hosting the conference as well as
Zardari, saying he would not forget
the love with which the former presi-
dent spoke to him a day earlier.
“I am thankful to the organiz-
ers of the conference for giving me
the opportunity to talk. Even though
I am away from my country, I know
very well what condition the country
and the people are in. I believe this is for the people”.
a decisive turn; it is necessary to pro-
tect democracy [...] and take fearless
decisions.”
In an all-encompassing speech,
which centered on criticizing the
Imran Khan-led government, Nawaz
spoke on the “poor state” of Pakistan’s
economy, “deteriorating” interna-
tional relations, “muzzling” of media
and “corruption within the PTI and
Bani Gala”.
“The country’s leader keeps
harping on about accountability but
he himself is involved in raising sug-
ar prices. Will no reference be filed
against him?”
He also repeated the opposition’s
allegation that the National Account-
ability Bureau (NAB), with the con-
nivance of PTI, was carrying out only
“selective accountability”.
“If we don’t do it [take a step]
today, when will we?” asked Nawaz.
“I agree with Maulana [Fazlur
Rehman, chief of JUI-F] that we need
to make this conference purposeful
or people will be disappointed…
“This conference should bring
forth a concrete plan of action for
saving democracy, a concrete policy
should be made for solving the prob-
lem of ‘a parallel state’.
“I again urge this all-party con-
ference to go beyond its traditional
ways and form a plan of action.”
Opening Remarks
by Zardari
Earlier, former president Zardari
delivered the opening speech at the
multiparty conference, also through
video link.
In his remarks, Zardari criti-
cized the government over what he
called were “tactics” to suppress the
opposition and media.
He welcomed Maryam, PML-
N vice-president and daughter of
Nawaz Sharif, and said he was happy
to see her at the conference. “We have
seen the difficulties she has faced and
we can understand because my own
sister has gone to jail and my wife
went to jail [...] We pay tribute to her “You people are the reason they (gov- will it threaten the existing order?”
and we are with you, and will keep
fighting for your cause and you will
keep fighting for ours, I am sure.”
Bilawal for ‘Plan
of Action’
In his speech, Bilawal empha-
sized the need for the multiparty
conference to come up with a proper
plan of action for “gaining freedom
“If [the people’s] elected repre-
sentatives cannot even speak in par-
liament and get their votes re-count-
ed, what hope will the nation have?”
he asked. He demanded that the op-
position be given a level-playing field
— not only in politics and media but
in parliament as well.
He urged the opposition to unite
and launch a movement similar to
the Movement for the Restoration of
PAKISTAN
The Scene in London before
Nawaz’s APC Speech
Democracy (MRD) in the past. “We n By Atika Rehman As some shared their reac-
Aare standing with the decision this fo- tions, the PML-N leader listened and
stone’s throw from the lush thanked the media for their support.
rum takes and are willing to fight till green expanses of Hyde Park, He appeared well-versed on all the
our last breath,” he said. Stanhope Place was buzzing tweets and analyses of his speech.
PML-N President Shehbaz Shar- Time and again, he hinted that
if took the mike next, saying that the with activity from the crack of dawn. he will remain active, engaged and
dictatorships in the country’s history It was here, inside the commercial of- connected with his supporters in the
had not only put a black mark on de- fices of Stanhope House, that Nawaz UK and representatives of the media.
mocracy but also damaged the judi- Sharif broke his months-long silence Past 6pm, he departed from the venue,
ciary. to deliver an unreserved, scorching bringing a long and happening day to
Talking about the 2018 elections, speech against the military establish- an end.
he said: “Remember when a selected ment.
government came into power and the As he arrived there, journalists As the crowd dispersed, residents
selected prime minister promised the pressed Nawaz to share a precursor who live in nearby flats wondered what
nation that the discrepancy in the of what was to come. But he revealed all the fuss was about, and what this
elections, the disappearance of the nothing, and simply said “you’ll see”, as animated group of people had gathered
RTS system, and the pre-engineering he climbed the steps and disappeared for that warranted a nearly 12-hour
of election results would be investi- into the staggering premises. wait. As reporters offered some context
gated.” Inside, a green screen had been to curious passers-by, one exclaimed,
Shehbaz claimed that the com- set up behind a wooden desk, where “Oh, so it’s a victory for democracy?
mittee formed to investigate had not Nawaz sat before a camera and made Cheers to that.” - Dawn
made even “an inch of progress”. what will be remembered as one of
“[The government] alleges that his most historic and daring political Fazl, Bilawal
the opposition did not cooperate. I statements. Meet to Discuss
am ready for a probe so what bigger Outside, tea was served with
lie can there be?” mithai and biscuits which were con- anti-Govt.
sumed between collective gasps and Movement
jaw-drops.
‘Time for Action, In a speech that lasted well past Karachi: Two days after the op-
not Just Talk’ position’s multiparty conference
half an hour, Nawaz launched an at- in Islamabad, seasoned politician
tack on “the forces that brought Imran and chief of his own faction of the
Khan to power”. As the speech ended, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-
Addressing the participants of his son Hussain Nawaz, met the re- F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a
the conference Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam porters. “This is the beginning of a meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party
(Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman struggle — not against Imran Khan but chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari
called upon the opposition parties against a parallel system.” on Tuesday and discussed with him
to “take concrete decisions” and re- “They will not have the luxury of the planned anti-government move-
sign from the assemblies. He said locking Nawaz away, of keeping him ment.
the Sindh Assembly, where PPP is in silent,” he added, in response to a ques-
a majority, should also be dissolved. tion about Nawaz’s possible return to Maulana Fazl visited Bilawal
Sindh is the only province where an Pakistan. House in Clifton along with his par-
opposition party is in power. Social media erupted with hot- ty leaders Rashid Soomro, Maulana
He also criticized the opposition takes on the speech as it unfolded. Obaidur Rehman and Aslam Ghori.
parties for “stepping back” and said: “Explosive,” said some journalists. “But Mr Bhutto-Zardari was assisted by
PPP leader Naveed Qamar during
ernment) has survived for two years.” asked others. Similar questions were the meeting.
Rehman said that it was time to fervently discussed outside Stanhope
take “practical steps”, adding that in House as the wait began for Nawaz to The meeting comes against the
order to run a successful movement step out and take questions from jour- backdrop of reports that Maulana
against the government, trust must nalists — a move that would have been Fazl was not happy with the PPP
be established. a calculated change from his deliber- as it did not allow live telecast of
“The option of compromise is ate distance from the media during his his speech during Sunday’s MPC.
not available,” he declared and called time in London. Maulana Fazl had himself protested
for a boycott of all government cer- Some PML-N workers gathered during the MPC over the “media
emonies, non-participation in legis- outside with boxes of Papa John’s pizza, blackout” of his speech and the PPP
lative process, detachment from all an unsuspecting symbol of resistance claimed that the speech was not tele-
international agreements made by flaunted blatantly, hours after Nawaz cast live on his own party’s request.
the “unconstitutional government”. hit out at retired General Asim Bajwa
Referring to laws passed to curb who has alleged links to the pizza com- It appears that Tuesday’s meet-
money laundering, Rehman said: pany. ing between Mr Bhutto-Zardari and
“Don’t you all know that whether it’s Hours later, reporters were invit- Maulana Fazl was aimed at quashing
black money or illegal money trans- ed inside for a strictly off-record con- rumors that the opposition’s newly
fer; the actual budget of secret agen- versation and informal meeting. It had formed alliance — the Pakistan
cies comes from that. So, when we been a long day, and Nawaz did not Democratic Movement formed as a
say that the money goes to terrorists, discuss anything political lest it eclipse result of Sunday’s MPC — had de-
the money that goes to support state- his APC speech. But he appeared re- veloped cracks moments after it was
sponsored terrorism should also be laxed and resolute, as if a weight had launched.
blocked.” been taken off his chest.
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