‘Parallel government’ cause of all problems, says Sharif
EX-PM addresses opposition’s APC via video link from London, says it is saddening that the situation has escalated to a state above the state. This parallel government illness is the root-cause of our problems
ISLAMABAD: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif who is in London, broke his silence on Sunday and said “the state above the state” and “parallel government,” which is the root-cause of all problems Pakistan is facing, can’t be tolerated.
Addressing the opposition’s All Parties’ Conference ( APC) via video link, he said former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani once pointed to “a state within a state” in Pakistan. “It is saddening that the situation has escalated to a state above the state. This parallel government illness is the root-cause of our problems.”
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is not their target. “Our struggle is against those who brought him in power.”
About the 2018 elections, he said the primary reason for the current problems were those people who “hijacked the people’s mandate by puting inexperienced people in power”. “This is a violation of the Constitution. Has anyone given a thought to what a grave crime it is to steal the people’s mandate? Can I ask why the Results Transmission System (RTS) was closed for hours during the election, why polling agents were thrown out during counting? Why was rigging done, on whose saying and why? The chief election commissioner and his secretary should answer and all those responsible will have to answer.”
He alleged the government has enforced a “martial law.”
“Criminals are allowed to make amendments to the Constitution and the people’s premier is expelled and his family is insulted.”
“This conference should bring forth a concrete plan of action for saving democracy, a concrete policy should be made for solving the problems. Our foremost priority should be removing this selected government and this system. Our struggle is not against Imran Khan. Today, our struggle is against those who installed him and who manipulated elections to bring an inefficient man like him into power and thus destroyed the country.”
The former prime minister said if change is not brought, it will bring irreversible loss to this country. “It is very important that our armed forces stay away from the governmental system according to our Constitution, and not interfere with the people’s choice. We have made this country a joke in our own eyes and internationally as well. I again urge this all-party conference to go beyond its traditional ways and form a plan of action.”
He started by thanking Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal for hosting the APC, saying he would not forget the love with which the former president Asif Ali Zardari spoke to him a day earlier.
“I am thankful to the organisers 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 a decisive turn; it is necessary to protect democracy and take fearless decisions.”
In an all-encompassing speech, which centred on criticising the Imran Khan-led government, Sharif spoke on the “poor state” of Pakistan’s economy, “deteriorating” international relations, “muzzling” of media and “corruption within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) and Bani Gala”.
“Pakistan’s leader keeps harping on about accountability but he himself is involved in raising sugar prices. Will no reference be filed against him?” Sharif also repeated the opposition’s allegation that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), with the connivance of PTI, was carrying out only “selective accountability”.
“If we don’t take a step today, when will we?” asked Sharif. “I agree with Maulana Fazlur Rehman that we need to make this conference purposeful or people will be disappointed. “Pakistan has been constantly deprived from a democratic system. When the vote is dishonoured, the entire democratic system becomes meaningless. When it is decided before the election process as to who will win and who will lose, then it can be guessed how the public is betrayed and how the public’s mandate is stolen.”
The former prime minister said Pakistan has become a laboratory of “such experiments.”
“Every child knows that no prime minister has been allowed to complete five years in power. All dictators have spent multiple years while premiers have hardly been allowed to complete their term,” he said.