We have to change Pakistan, respect public's mandate: Sharif

RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a mammoth gathering at Rawalpindi late Wednesday night, took a pledge from the people that they would get their mandate respected.

The former premier reached Rawalpindi's Committee Chowk in a rally 12 hours after departing from the Punjab House, Islamabad, as supporters showered his vehicle with rose petals during what is considered to normally be a 30-minute drive.

A huge crowd gathered for his journey along the Grand Trunk Road bridging the 380 km between Islamabad and Lahore. "Around 50 percent of the people here are those who have just come to watch the scene," said bystander Nazakat Ali.

Sharif inquired from the large crowd, which had come out to support him, "Were these prime ministers not the people's choice? When will the people's mandate be respected?" adding that this joke has been repeated in Pakistan for 70 years.

"Promise me you would get your mandate respected. Promise me you won’t allow your prime minister to be humiliated this way," he stated then.

"If you do not protect your rights, they will continue to be snatched away from you," he told his supporters.

"The judges said there is no corruption case against Nawaz Sharif, so why was I disqualified? I leave this for history to determined," Sharif – who has held the PMship three times – noted.

"I am going home and I do not want you to get me restored," he added. 

The ex-PM said he had never seen such an outpour of love by people anywhere in the country. "A few people in Pindi say it is their city. Tonight, based on this crowd here, I tell them that this is my city."

Asking the crowd if they accept the Supreme Court's decision – a question that elicited a loud "No" from his supporters – Sharif said, "One court has given its decision, now this court will make a decision, the court of the people of Pakistan."

"Nawaz Sharif is still our prime minister," said worker Niaz Ahmad, who wore a lion look-alike costume and chanted, "Lion, Lion!" referring to the election symbol of Sharif's political party.

The PML-N leader summarised thereafter that the court of Pakistani people has announced its decision that they did not accept the ruling against him.

"When I first came to power, I was sent home after two and a half years. Now, I have been disqualified for not withdrawing the salary," he lamented.

Pakistan will celebrate 70 years of independence from British rule on August 14 this year but the country has never had a full-term prime minister, with numerous governments being interrupted by either military coups, judicial disqualification, or presidential decree.

"Every prime minister in this country was given one-and-a-half-year tenure, on average, to govern. Some were executed, some jailed, some handcuffed, and some exiled."

Sharif said he was not hungry for power, but that he desired to change the country and ensure the people's mandate is respected. He said he cannot accept "if people vote for someone and that person is sent home by others".

"I was sent home the first time; the second time, I was handcuffed. We have not been allowed to work in peace."

He said it was unfair to disqualify him on the grounds of not having declared a salary from his son's Dubai-based company among a list of assets submitted ahead of the 2013 elections that brought him to power.

Sharif lambasts opponents

During his address, Sharif also slammed his opponents, accusing them of "spreading unrest in the country".

"This molvi sahab (cleric) comes to spread unrest in Pakistan and he is back again. Who is he? Where does he come from?" he asked rhetorically, without naming Tahirul Qadri – the chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), 

"He spends his life in Canada, then comes here to ruin things," the PML-N leader criticised.

Rally via GT Road

Earlier, the former prime minister's caravan entered Rawalpindi, continuing its journey via the GT Road towards Lahore – his hometown. Sources told Geo News it is unlikely that he will be able to leave the city tonight.

Strict security preparations were made for the rally, with a significant number of police personnel, including elite force commandos, deployed. A helicopter also followed the procession to provide safe passage for the rally.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi – Pakistan's new prime minister and a close Sharif ally – said the former leader was alert to security threats. "The bigger a leader is, the bigger the threat is," Abbasi told Geo.tv.

The security threat was underlined more so consequent to fears stemming from a truck bomb explosion that took place in Lahore on Monday, killing one person and injuring dozens.

The gathering was a show of force by Sharif, 67, who resigned during his third stint as prime minister after the Supreme Court in a closely-followed, well-documented case ruled on July 28 he should be disqualified and ordered a criminal probe into his family over allegations stemming from the "Panama Papers" leaks of international offshore companies.

The ex-PM departed from Punjab House around noon. Senior government officials – including the interim Prime Minister, members of the federal cabinet, and PML-N leaders – were present to see him off.

Chaudhry Nisar – a disgruntled party leader – was conspicuous through his absence from the procession.

The event remained largely peaceful, though Sharif's supporters assaulted the crew of two local TV stations that had been critical of him during the court proceedings, police official Hafeez Khan said.

The decision for Sharif to reach out to masses by travelling via GT Road was taken at a party meeting at Punjab House a couple of days ago. Senator Asif Kirmani – Sharif's special aide on political affairs – said the route was changed after demands by PML-N's local leaders and MNAs.

Following his disqualification as the prime minister, Sharif stepped down from the position and headed to his Murree residence alongside family members and close confidants.

A week later, he moved to Islamabad's Punjab House.

Shehbaz?

Party leaders have recently suggested that Abbasi will hold office until elections due next year, a reversal of earlier indications that Sharif's younger brother, Shehbaz, would take over.

Shehbaz is now likely to replace his brother as party chief because Pakistani law bars convicted or disqualified persons from leading a political party.