We need to respect people’s mandate: Nawaz Sharif

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was not treading the path of democracy set down by the country’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing the media on Monday at Iqbal's mausoleum, he added that the country was founded on the basis of democracy, but was broken into pieces as democracy and law were sidelined.

However, he further said, that the time has come to bring Pakistan on the path of progress. 

“On the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan we have to vow to always respect [public] votes.”

The former prime minister also said that independence cannot be celebrated with fervour as the country was separated and added that Pakistan would have developed at a faster pace had Bangladesh still been a part of the country.

Nevertheless, Nawaz said, his government still fulfilled their electoral promises.

“We could see a storm of people who accompanied us to Lahore,” he said.

“They had not come for nothing, they could see prosperity coming to Pakistan and that their basic necessities were being fulfilled.”

“A year was left in which we would have done more, we were also planning to bring down the rates of electricity and provide people with affordable justice," said the former premier.