Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Saturday took out a rally against the long-hour electricity load shedding, inflation and corruption, from the Muslim Mosque, Lohari Chowk to Bhatti Chowk amid slogans of "Go Zardari Go" and "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif."
The rally was led by PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz and PML-N Lahore President Mohammad Pervaiz Malik. The PML-N legislators along with party activists participated in the rally leading processions taken out from different parts of the provincial metropolis. Shops, markets and business centres remained closed on Saturday to protest against loadshedding. The PML-N traders, lawyers, women and youth wings participated in the rally. Addressing the participants of the rally, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz slammed the PPP-led government for bad governance and rampant corruption. He said Mian Nawaz Sharif would be next Prime Minister and after coming into power the PML-N would resolve the manifold problems including loadshedding posed to the country. He said the days of President Asif Zardari and PM Gilani are numbered.
He said the industrial and commercial sector have suffered losses of billions of rupees as closure of their business has led to them to cancel foreign orders in addition to facing problem towards discharging their loan liabilities to the Bank. Hamza said that after coming into power, Muslim League-N would utilise all its energies for the elimination of loadshedding and bring back looted money of the nation from Swiss accounts to utilise on power generation projects. He said that the gang of 40 thieves has given nothing but problems to the masses during its four-year rule.
He said that the ruling gang in Islamabad is looting the national resources with both hands. He said that by pointing out corruption of billions of rupees in rental power project, Supreme Court has put its seal on the irregularities of Zardari government. He said that the way national economy has been pushed to disaster during the last four years is unprecedented in the country's history. He said that due to anti-people policies of the government, the masses have come out to recover their looted money from "Ali Baba and 40 Thieves."
PML-N Lahore President Pervaiz Malik while addressing the rally said, if Quaid Nawaz Sharif gave the call of long march to Islamabad for the elimination of loadshedding, the people will respond and bring down Zardari government. Muslim League-N leader Sardar Ayyaz Sadiq, Mian Marghoob Ahmad, Malik Riaz, Senator Kamran Michael, Naseer Bhutta, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Kh. Imran Nazir, Kh Salman Rafique, Dr Asad Ashraf, Haji Allah Rakha and Zaeem Qadri were also present on the occasion.
The participants of the rally registered their protest against loadshedding in a peaceful manner. Elaborate security arrangements were made for the security of participants of the rally. PML-N leader Mohammad Mehdi said this rally was a part of a series of protest demonstrations that the PML-N intended to hold in all the provincial capitals. According to him, the PPP-led incompetent government had aggravated the problems of loadshedding, corruption and price-hikes through its destructive policies.
He said the rallies against loadshedding will make the government bow down before public pressure, as the people are fed up with the government and want snap polls to be held as early as possible. On 2nd April, similar rallies will be held in Abbottabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad and Sahiwal. Protests will also be held in Multan, Kasur, Sheikhupura and DG Khan on 3rd April. The PML-N will also hold rallies on 4th April in Bahawalpur, Karrak and Sargodha and in Gujrat, Okara and DG Khan on 5th April.