Minus-one formula not acceptable to public, says Nawaz Sharif

QUETTA: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that minus-one formula not acceptable to the masses in aftermath of his ouster. 

Addressing a public rally held on the 44th death anniversary of Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai at Ayub Stadium here, Sharif once against hit out at judiciary for disqualifying him.

“I was disqualified by judges who themselves took oath under the PCO,” he asserted while lamenting Supreme Court’s landmark July 28 verdict.

Taking a jibe at judges, Sharif said the verdict on Sadiq and Ameen (truthful and honest) was given by those who pledged their allegiance to the dictators.

He said it was the court of masses that will exonerate him from all charges. “People have rejected the decision against me,” he added.

Praising the people of Balochistan, he said people of Balochistan have always opposed the dictatorial regimes, adding, his party and Pashtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) have strong ideological bonds.

“I never compromise when it comes to the law and constitution,” Sharif remarked.

Moreover, Sharif said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government initiated development projects across the province to bring it at par with other parts of the country.

He said Balochistan remained underdeveloped for decades until his party government implemented development schemes envisioned by him.

Taking a credit for Balochistan’s development, Sharif said the progress in the province is exemplary as there had been no signs of development four years ago.

Paying a tribute to Khan Abdul Samad Khan, an eminent leader of the independence movement, the ousted premier said the Pashtun nationalist leader gave a lot of sacrifices and spent 24 years behind bars for his political ideology.

He said the late leader had wished to see a network of roads in Pakistan like those in Afghanistan.

“Today we have far better roads and motorways in Balochistan than Afghanistan as we implemented his vision,” the PML-N president said.

“PML-N government embarked upon a development programme to connect the province with rest of the country,” he said.