Nawaz warns against his removal from party presidentship

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif warned on Saturday that masses would take notice if he is removed from the party's presidency. "There is another petition in the court to get me removed from the PML-N presidentship, but will you accept such a decision?" he asked the participants of a public meeting in Jaranwala. Addressing a mammoth gathering at Jinnah Stadium, he said the people of Jaranwala and Faisalabad had endorsed the PML-N policies of eliminating load-shedding, terrorism, and putting the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
Nawaz slammed his political opponents, urging supporters to ask those chanting slogans of "Naya Pakistan" as to what they have given to the people and the country. "I was ousted over not receiving a fictional salary from my son," Nawaz told his jubilant supporters. Nawaz said the PML-N would give a tough time to its political opponents in the coming general elections. "This passion will serve as a base for referendum in 2018 polls," he said.
Linking current political upheaval to his ouster, the PML-N chief claimed that chaos is once again returning to Pakistan. "Drone attacks were halted during my tenure, he claimed. The drone attacks have begun once again," he said, adding: "I told Obama that Pakistan is a sovereign state and drone attacks would not be tolerated," he said. Referring to his movement for justice, Nawaz said: "The movement of justice that I talk about today will ensure that a person will not have to deal with cases against their grandfathers." He urged the stalwarts to lend support to his justice-restoration movement.
During his address, Nawaz also said that the country was facing rampant terrorism and power outages when the PML-N government took charge in 2013. "We made efforts to counter these challenges and were successful to a certain extent," he said. "But today, Pakistan is being looked at with malicious intentions again," he added.
Speaking about the reasons for his ouster, Nawaz said: "Is it a crime not to draw a salary from my son?" Nawaz questioned. He said: "I was ousted because of this crime. I have come to the public's court to get justice," he said. He said: "You elected me as the prime minister so how can someone else announce my ouster," he wondered, adding: "Whether his disqualification was for five years or life, no one could affect his relationship with the public whose decision will be final Insha Allah."
He expressed his resolve that he would not allow tampering with sanctity of vote [by opponents]. He told the gathering that Nawaz always fulfilled promises made with the people whether it is overcoming of load shedding, terrorism, economic revival or infrastructure development like motorways. "Raise your hands and tell me, did I not fulfil my promise?" he asked.
Talking about the past, Nawaz said: "Pakistan was on the path of rapid progress in 1999 when Musharraf declared martial law and obliterated uplift process. He who made Pakistan an atomic power was exiled," he said. "When we conducted nuclear tests in 1999, Pakistan was on the way to become an Asian Tiger. Its economy was growing, but Musharraf ruined Pakistan's bright prospects by imposing martial law."
On the occasion, the PML-N supporters also raised slogans of "Wazir-e-Azam Nawaz Sharif." Nawaz's daughter Maryam Nawaz, who took the stage prior to her father's address, asked the participants to rise up against the injustices in Pakistan. "Do you accept a Pakistan where the public's vote has the lowest worth?" questioned Maryam.
Maryam said: "Are you willing to accept a Pakistan in which an elected prime minister attends court summons along with his daughter, but dictators, such as Musharraf, pay no heed to courts." Without naming Imran Khan, Maryam asked the participants if they were willing to accept a Pakistan where the judiciary was biased toward a 'ladlaa'. She said: "After God, the public's court holds the most power." She urged that the public should support her unjustly ousted father in his struggle for justice. Asking public to rise and punish the 'conspiring pawns,' Maryam said, "We will continue to fight the battle for the rights of people."