PML-N Chief and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says his party members will soon requisition National Assembly session in order to press the government for implementing resolutions of joint session of parliament by constituting an independent commission to probe May 2, 2011 operation in Abbottabad and punish those responsible across the board.
"We welcome the resolutions adopted in the joint session of the parliament and call for its early implementation by constituting members of high stature in the independent commission as well as its modalities by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in consultation with Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Nawaz Sharif has said his party gives equal importance to all provinces of Pakistan and that his agenda is similar to that of the nationalist political parties of Sindh.
"Provincial autonomy, new provinces and other important issues should be considered anew," Shairf suggested at a press conference during his visit to the residence of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STP) chief Qadir Magsi here on Tuesday. Sharif called for accountability of all those who subverted the country's laws and constitution with impunity and denied rights to the marginalised communities and autonomy to the provinces.
"Such men whether they be in positions of authority should be brought to book," he added. Demanding immediate arrest of the killers of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, he lamented that the culprits were still at large.
Sharif said his party had the same manifesto as that of the nationalist leaders he met here. "We talk about rights of the poor, minorities and autonomy for provinces," he explained. To a question, he said his government introduced various schemes for development of Sindh's rural areas. "We launched the yellow cabs so that people involved in transport business can earn a living," he said, adding that his party began to distribute land to poor peasants in Sindh and made access to justice easier during his two stints in the government.
However, he recalled that the party's mandate was not respected and against a total of 10 years term after winning two elections, PML-N was not even allowed 5 years in the government. "Our many development plans remained incomplete," he added, saying had his government been allowed to continue the issues of Sindh and Balochistan would have been resolved.
He blamed judiciary of legitimising coups of adventurer generals in the past. When queried for his party's stance on creation of new provinces, Sharif proposed that an academic dialogue should be held on the matter. "I am not against new provinces as smaller administrations are able to perform better," he added.
He praised nationalist leaders for their struggle for the province's rights and said all cultures should be proud of their languages and vibrant traditions. "Sindhis have maintained their tradition of topi and ajarak which is quite impressive." Mian Nawaz Sharif considered complaints of nationalist leaders about the census to be justified and lamented ignoring the natives of the province in the process. Earlier, Dr Qadir Magsi expressed gratitude to Nawaz Sharif for acknowledging the problems of smaller provinces and assuring his support.
The PML-N leader also called on Rasool Bux Palijo, president Awami Tehreek, at his residence earlier in the morning. The two leaders talked about issues of mutual importance. Talking to media after the meeting, they said the two parties would co-operate with each other on the issues which concern the both. Sharif said the province should have rights over its natural resources and that fairness should be ensured in distribution of water.
"Denying admissions in Karachi's educational institutions to youth of interior Sindh is not acceptable," he said. On the occasion, MNA Khwaja Saad Rafique said the purpose of Sharif's visit was to make new alliances in the province. He expressed the hope that his party would be supported by them in the next election. "A new alliance can be formed before the next general elections in the country," he added.
Nawaz Sharif also chaired a meeting of party leaders and workers of Sindh at the residence of Nawab Arshad Talpur. Party's reorganisation and electing district level leadership in Sindh was the agenda of the meeting, MNA Khwaja Saad Rafique said. Senator Pervez Rashid, Ghaus Ali Shah, Salim Zia, Mamnoon Hussain, Rana Mashhoor, Afzal Gujar and other leaders of the party accompanied Mian Nawaz Sharif during his visits.