Pakistan Views

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said that Nawaz Sharif and he was of the opinion that President Musharraf should not be given any safe exit under any circumstances and he should be made accountable in accordance with the constitution.

Talking to media on the sidelines of the 42nd Convocation of Lahore College of Physicians and Surgeons, Shahbaz Sharif said that the man who abused the constitution for eight years and committed monumental corruptions, this man must be made accountable under the constitution and laws in all circumstances.

Addressing the Convocation, Punjab chief minister said that providing quality health facilities was at the top priority of the government, for which, doctors’ service structure would be restored and the hospital would be given administrative and financial autonomy. He also distributed medals among the position holders of the College on this occasion.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif called on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari here at Zardari House on Saturday.

Matters related to the President’s impeachment came under discussion, PML-N sources said.

Shahbaz Sharif informed the PPP Co-chairman that 93 members of the National Assembly belonging to PML-N have signed impeachment resolution, sources told APP.

During the meeting, both sides decided to immediately call all the Senators and MNAs in the Federal Capital, sources said.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assisted Mian Shahbaz Sharif during the meeting while Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman, Labour and Manpower Minister Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Law Minister Farooq H. Niak assisted Asif Ali Zardari, sources added.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Friday said the party would continue its efforts for the country’s political and economic stability and security.

Chairing an informal meeting of senior party leaders here at Punjab House, Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N’s role in the ruling coalition aims to achieve the same objectives but this has to be done without sacrificing the party’s principled stance on national issues.

The meeting was attended by Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Ahsan Iqbal, Sar Anjam Khan, and Peer Sabir Shah.

The PML-N president briefed the participants about the meeting of coalition parties’ heads held on Wednesday.

Shahbaz said he urged on PPP to determine certain mechanism for joint decision making to build trust among coalition partners to guarantee trouble free, smooth and successful execution of the alliance policies.

PML-N believes in the restoration of real democracy and rule of law which is possible only by ensuring the supremacy of parliament, he said.

Shahbaz said reinstatement of the deposed judges to November 2 position is the “master key” to resolve the existing national crisis and pave the way for formulation and execution of policies on sensitive issues.

He said the nation desperately wishes success of the coalition but this is possible only when the component parties respect their mandate and the wish and will of the general public who want restoration of the judiciary, rule of justice and law and impeachment of the President.

Shahbaz said the party is striving to keep the coalition intact and strengthen it through offering every possible support in the centre and provinces.

But PPP also needs to play its role for the purpose to ensure error free and safe transition towards achieving the prime objective of the real democracy through rule of law, supremacy of the parliament and securing sanctity of the constitution.

Shahbaz Sharif told the party leaders that a proposal was presented on behalf of the party to the PM and the coalition partners that the ruling party before taking any initiative on the issues of national importance, should consult the alliance and the issues of high national importance should be presented in the National Assembly in the due course for debate and final decision.

This was necessary to acquire masses’ support and to develop policies based on national consensus, he said.

According to him the proposal was accepted by the coalition partners and the ruling party had agreed to ensure the procedure was followed.

The party leaders expressed gratitude to Shahbaz for successfully advocating the party stance during the coalition meeting and showed their trust in his leadership, a party press release said.

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif said that his government would set right the last eight years’ irregularities and mismanagements.

In an exclusive interview  he said that millions were wasted in the previous regime, but the landscape in rural areas didn’t improve. He said that dead animal was seen floating and grass grown at Liaquatpur drinking water tank, while doctors were not available at rural hospitals.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the children of elite schools play on the internet, while in the rural areas the children do not know the name of the capital of Punjab. He said that he was in no way lacking in the spirit and sincerity for serving the people, but the whole nation would have to share the drive with him.

Earlier he met with the workers of the Lahore constituency PP-154 and announced an allocation of Rs200 million for development works in the area.

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the plantation campaign by planting a sapling at the Allama Iqbaal Library.

The chief minister Punjab was accompanied by provincial minister for special education Iqbal Chinar, MNA Saud Majeed, MNA Jahangir Khan Tareen and secretary forests Khusro Pervez on this education.

Secretary forests told that 13 million saplings would be planted during the plantation campaign, out of which 4.55 million would be planted on the land of the forests department while 0.85 million saplings would be planted on other government lands.

Similarly, 2.40 million saplings will be planted on the land managed by Pakistaaan Army while 5.2 million saplings will be planted on private lands.

The Forests department will establish 500 sale points in the province where 30 million saplings will be provided on discount rates.

The Chief Minister, Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif has asked the President, Pervez Musharraf to immediately resign in the best interest of the country and people.

Talking to a private TV channel he said that Musharraf is not a constitutional President and he should not wait for a moment and resign from his post, adding it would be his biggest favour to Pakistan.

To a question he said that they were still stick to their stance over the judges issue and want early restoration of the deposed judges. He said that provision of justice was only possible when judiciary was independent. He said no society could survive without justice.

Shahbaz said that Pakistan could only develop when there would be rule of law and Constitution and ‘we will follow the guidelines given by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah an Allama Mohammad Iqbal’. ‘Only Pakistan could be made a welfare state where justice should be easily available and financial resources could be distributed justly’, he added.

Punjab CM said that the government would provide every possible relief to the masses, saying the masses have expressed their confidence in them and they would not be disappointed. He said that justice would be provided to the people at their doorstep.

To a question he said that the PML-N government would fulfil all the promises made with the people during the election campaign and would also implement the manifesto of his party.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif sacked Medical Superintend Dr. Iqbal Kazmi, Deputy Medical Superintend and storekeeper on account of substandard services at Lady Wallington Hospital in Lahore here on Sunday. Chief Minister made a surprise visit to hospital and monitored emergency and other wards of hospital. He took strong notice of substandard cleanliness arrangements, chocked sewerage system, disorder elevator service and lack of 9 months record of medicines. He heard from patients about their problems and ordered for their free treatment. Later, talking to media he said that those who practice negligence must be penalized.

Federal Government on Saturday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking suspension of the Lahore High Court verdict on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s candidature.

Sources said decision in this regard was taken in a meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Karachi.

In this context, federal government had directed the deputy Attorney General Raja Abdul Rehman to prepare the appeal, sources further said.

New situation has risen after unopposed election of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif from another constituency while legal experts have started another debate on the issue.

Experts of election laws Qazi Mohiuddin Advocate said Shahbaz Sharif should have withdrawn from the second constituency but he did not do so.

According to Mohiuddin, Shahbaz Sharif will have to quit first seat after winning another. He will not remain as chief minister under such circumstance, he said, adding Sharif could not become chief minister for the third time if he after would take oath as member of provincial assembly again.

On the other hand, Advocate General designated Khawaja Haris said Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s membership would not be affected after being elected from another constituency.

Haris said, “Shahbaz Sharif can quit his new seat and constitution allows him to do so.”

Lahore High Court will hear a petition of Shahid Orakzai against the candidature of PML-N President Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

The petitioner challenged the unopposed election of Shahbaz Sharif as MPA and Chief Minister Punjab.

A three-member full bench of the LHC comprising Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha, Justice M.Bilal Khan and Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi will start the hearing of the case on ex-parte basis.