Will change Karachi, Sindh if given chance: Nawaz

KARACHI: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif promised on Thursday to bring a change in Karachi and Sindh if he is given the chance.

Nawaz was addressing the workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after chairing a meeting of the party’s provincial executive committee at a hotel in Karachi.

Look at the difference between the Karachi of 2013 and Karachi of 2017, he said, adding that “The difference is quite evident”. 

“Karachi is equally precious to me as any other city of Pakistan,” he said, adding “I invite people of Karachi to visit Lahore.

“Karachi should’ve been more developed, progressive, and pretty. However, Lahore has won this race.”

The PML-N chief even took a dig at political opponent Imran Khan and slammed the 'lack of progress' in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

“We are building roads and setting up workshops in KP. They [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government] didn’t produce a single unit of electricity.They claim to have planted two billion trees but we can’t see even 200 trees there,” added Nawaz. 

"Those who play cricket are in governance. But, Nawaz is making the Hazara motorway," he added. 

Nawaz, who was disqualified as prime minister by the Supreme Court in a landmark verdict on July 28, has come to Karachi for the first time since his disqualification. 

While referring to the verdict, he remarked: "I couldn’t complete my tenure. A verdict removed me from my post. The nation has rejected this verdict."

Nawaz further said that he has spent more than half his life in in politics. He then corrected himself and said: "Not politics, but serving the people."

'Eradicated terrorism from across Pakistan'

The former premier said, in his address with members of trade fraternity later in the day, noted federation's efforts to restore peace to Karachi. "The city would remain close throughout the day in the wake of strikes. Not only did we eradicate terrorism from Karachi, but from whole of Pakistan."

He said the megapolis used to be a very beautiful city, but he does not know whose evil eye it caught.

Nawaz lamented the provincial government was to provide buses and establish stations, but regretted that it did fulfil its responsibility.

In a clear reference to his disqualification by the apex court, he said the entire nation understands what he has been saying. "The nation knows what farce has been played with me; I was disqualified for not receiving salary from [my] son."

The former premier said the PML-N has done everything be it establishing airports, ending power shortfall, or maintenance of law and order in Karachi.

"If everything is being done by the PML-N, then what are other parties up to," Nawaz questioned.

The PML-N chief had landed in Karachi earlier in the day and was received by party leaders at the Old Terminal of the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

The former premier is also expected to visit the construction site of Green Line Bus project and review its progress.

On Friday, the former prime minister will participate in a seminar on future of democracy in Pakistan. Others attending the seminar include Balochistan-based senior politicians Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Mir Hasil Bizenjo, among others.

Nawaz will meet a delegation of Pakistan Bengali Association Friday evening, and also address a gathering of lawyers. 

Interestingly, Nawaz is also expected to appear on Friday before the accountability court Islamabad hearing corruption cases against him.