ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said nobody could damage stability of Pakistan in the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The minister was speaking at a gathering organized by Pakistan Muslim League(N) here in Shah Allah Ditta to thank party supporters for achieving victory in bye elections of local government.
He said in 1947 a promise was made to the people of Kashmir, but till 1997, no government of Pakistan could persuade India to hold talks for resolving the Kashmir issue.
Two wars were fought between the two countries but India could not be brought to the negotiating table, he added.
He said in 1997, people of Pakistan elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who succeeded in convincing Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
History was witness that in 1999, Vajpayee came to Pakistan and while standing at Minar-e-Pakistan stated that he accepted the reality of Pakistan and promised to Nawaz Sharif that he would resolve the Kashmir issue in his lifetime, so that people could be saved from wars and hate, he narrated.
He reminded that Minar-e-Pakistan was the place where Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah announced to create Pakistan.
During that same tenure, Nawaz Sharif strengthened Pakistan by making it a nuclear power, ending the fear that India created by carrying out nuclear explosions, he added.
The minister said Nawaz Sharif, who achieved all this was imprisoned in Attock Fort and then in Landhi jail. Pervez Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and then sent him into exile.
The minister said people again voted for Nawaz Sharif to serve them and he was asked to repair Pakistan which was destroyed by Pervez Musharraf.
When Musharraf left Pakistan in 2013, three to four explosions were occurring every day in cities and incidents of terrorism at places of worship, schools, hospitals and defence centres was a routine, he said adding dead bodies of innocent people were lying on roads.
He said in 2013, Nawaz Sharif was handed over a Pakistan which was destroyed with terrorism and terrorist organizations were out in the open.
The minister said the Pakistan of 2013, was dripped in blood and plunged in darkness while, Pakistan of 2016 was getting rid of terrorism and power shortages which had extended to 20 hours in the previous government.
Now the elected leadership of Pakistan led by Nawaz Sharif was correcting wrongs of the past.
He noted during rule of Pervez Musharraf Kashmir issue was forgotten and nothing was done about it in eight years.
Musharraf did not have the courage to mention Kashmir and it was Nawaz Sharif who revived the Kashmir issue and stressed in his speeches at the United Nations General Assembly that resolutions on Kashmir, which grant Kashmiris the right to self-determination, should be implemented, he emphasised.
Pervaiz Rashid said All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) thanked Nawaz Sharif for raising voice for their rights and stated that he won their hearts.
He said then a voice came from Delhi that Nawaz Sharif would not be spared and same threat was made by certain elements in Pakistan.
These elements were after Nawaz Sharif because he was bringing the country out of darkness and stopped terrorism from spreading.
He said these people did not stage a sit in when Pakistan was faced with incidents of terrorism and when a common man was not getting transport facility.
If these steps were “crimes” of Nawaz Sharif then we would continue to commit these crimes, he stressed.
He said the pain which Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League could feel for Pakistan, could not be felt by those “playing with the bat”.
The minister said by voting for PML(N) repeatedly, people of Pakistan had reaffirmed their commitment to make Pakistan a peaceful, safe and bright place and take people of Kashmir to their destination of freedom.
He said the common man who could not buy expensive vehicles, now travelled on Metro bus with dignity and reached schools and hospitals with ease.
Those who were staging sit ins were once, seeking votes for Pervez Musharraf during referendum, he added.
The minister said people would foil the conspiracy of assaulting the future of Pakistan.
When people voted for PMLN, it sent a message to the world that they were against those who were staging sit-in, he added.
The minister said people of Pakistan would again vote for PML-N in general election 2018.
