GT Road rally: Nawaz pledges to make Pakistan a great country

GUJRANWALA: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said that conspiracies were being hatched against his government for the previous three and a half years and pledged to make Pakistan a great country.

"If you agree and keep your promise, we will change the country’s destiny.”

Nawaz also paid tribute to the child who was killed earlier today in Lalamusa and said he would visit the child's household and would help them as much as he could. He also prayed for the child's soul. 

"He was the first martyr of our struggle," said Nawaz. 

Speaking in regards to the allegations brought against his premiership, he said he did not steal a single rupee. 

"Prove the corruption that you say I did," said Nawaz challenging his opponents and added that once again he was not allowed to complete his tenure. 

"I say once again that I have not come here to get myself restored. I have come for the dignity of the country, to get the country's dignity restored."

Reiterating his earlier statements from Gujrat, Nawaz said democratically elected prime ministers were never allowed to complete their tenure. 

"How unlucky is Pakistan that not one prime minister completed his tenure. There were 18 prime ministers who ruled for a year and a half, while three dictators ruled for 30 years."

Nawaz also called upon the ones who gave the ruling against him to see the people announcing their verdict.

“When they didn’t find any excuse, they disqualified me for not receiving salary from my son. Do you think it was justified?”

“They only ousted me on paper, but not from the hearts of the people. Tomorrow these people would again elect me as their prime minister.”

The former premier said Pakistan was developing as a nation and industries were being set up, unemployment was being reduced and the country was moving on a path of peace and prosperity. 

"But they could not tolerate this. They thought that if Nawaz succeeded, then PML-N would come into power next year."

Nawaz also thanked the crowd gathered at the venue.

"I want to thank you all for coming here to support me," said Nawaz.

Referring to his earlier long march for the restoration of judges, he said Gujranwala has always been lucky for him.

Replying to the crowds chants of 'Nawaz Sharif we love you', the former premier said he loves Gujranwala too. 

Earlier on his arrival, the former prime minister was welcomed by a massive crowd of supporters in Gujranwala on Friday evening, his third day of the journey home to Lahore.

He is expected to spend the night in Gujranwala before moving towards Lahore on Saturday. 

Nawaz rallies supporters to bring positive change 

Addressing a massive crowd in Gujrat, Nawaz again asked for support to help him bring change to the country.

Playing to the crowd of supporters, Nawaz asked if the people had accepted the verdict against his premiership, the question received a resounding chorus from the crowd which answered in the negative. 

"Have you accepted the court’s decision? My appeal is in your court. Nawaz Sharif’s appeal is in your court."

Reiterating his statements from his address a day earlier in Jhelum, Nawaz said the mandate of the people was torn apart when he was kicked out of office.

He added that it was a matter of respect of 200 million people and no individual could take this right from the people.

The disqualified premier also reiterated that he had not indulged in any corrupt activities.

"Why was Nawaz Sharif ousted? Someone should tell me what corruption charges I am facing. The judges are saying that Nawaz Sharif has not done corruption. The nation is asking why I was ousted?"

"Millions voted for Nawaz Sharif and a few dishonourably ousted Nawaz Sharif."

He asked till when will this 'joke' of ousting democratically elected prime ministers go on as "no prime minister has completed their tenure."

"Today, there is power in the country, the farmer’s tube well is working, loadshedding is about to end in the country, prosperity is returning to the country."

The route of Nawaz's convoy was changed after he had addressed his supporters in Gujrat's Central Point.  

Nawaz departed from Jhelum around 11:30am on Friday, continuing his journey to Lahore via the GT Road. 

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, on his way to Gujranwala, some 100 kilometres from Jhelum, was greeted by hordes of supporters in Sarai Alamgir, Kharian, Lala Musa and Gujrat.

Earlier, Nawaz spent the night at Tulip Hotel — located on the bank of Jhelum River — on the second day of his 'homecoming rally', following his disqualification by the Supreme Court on July 28. 

Local leaders of the PML-N, along with supporters, and security staff amassed at the venue and left in Nawaz's cavalcade.  

Senior party leaders Pervaiz Rasheed, Saad Rafique, Amir Muqam and Abid Sher Ali, among others, are accompanying Nawaz. 

Talking to Geo News earlier, PML-N leader and state minister Talal Chaudhry confirmed that Nawaz will be spending the night in Gujranwala and heading to Lahore tomorrow. 

Day two 

Addressing his supporters in Jhelum on Thursday evening, Nawaz said he is not greedy for power but wants to change Pakistan for the better.

He added that he was working towards bringing peace and prosperity to the country.

The former premier said it was the people's mandate which brought him to power and he was ousted "in a minute".

"Now, five honoured judges, ousted a democratically elected prime minister with the stroke of a pen in a minute," said Nawaz.

"There was no corruption, there was no wrong doing."

“You choose a prime minister by voting for him, but then a judge or a military dictator tears up your vote. This needs to change if Pakistan is to progress,” said Nawaz.

“The average for a democratically elected prime minister in Pakistan is a year and a half. Dictators rule the country for 10 years but a prime minister can not even complete his tenure.”

“Is any court to punish dictators, dictators who have violated the Constitution,” questioned the former premier.

After addressing his supporters, Nawaz held a meeting of PML-N leaders to discuss the future course of action.

Earlier, Nawaz's convoy departed Rawalpindi and entered Jhelum.

Though the former premier's convoy took a while to cross Katcheri Chowk, Rawalpindi, once through, it whizzed out of the garrison city, crossing Rawat and the GT Road towns that follow.

Nawaz began the second leg of his 'homecoming rally' after leaving in his cavalcade from Punjab House, Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Day one 

On Wednesday, the former premier set out from Punjab House, Islamabad after deciding to go home to Lahore via the GT Road earlier.

The amassing of supporters, however, could only get him as far as Rawalpindi — forcing him to spend Wednesday night in the city.

After being disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in its verdict in the Panama Papers case, Nawaz has gone to the 'people's court' to seek their verdict.

Addressing supporters at Rawalpindi late Wednesday night, he took a pledge from the people that they would get their mandate respected.

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

"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 determine," noted the three-time premier.

Earlier, the former prime minister's caravan entered Rawalpindi surrounded by scores of supporters.