Zardari, Nawaz lash out at govt in APC address

My solidarity is with Maryam Nawaz Sharif: Asif Zardari

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The much-hyped 11-party Opposition All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is underway in federal capital.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari, in his welcome address said that they will sent government packing to restore democracy and save the country. Foundation of a country is laid on democracy, after which prosperity follows, he added.

Asif Zardari also thanked PML-N supremo for accepting PPP’s invitation and said that Benazir Bhutto signed charter of democracy with Nawaz Sharif and both parties cooperated to remove Musharraf from office and pass 18th amendment.

He further said that 18th amendment is a wall around the constitution and because of this amendment, no one can look at the constitution with evil intensions.

"We have never seen such stringent censorship across the country," Zardari stated. "This reflects on the weakness of the government. It is impossible to curtail the emerging voices of the media.

The ex-president also especially welcomed PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, saying he was "fully aware of the hardships you’ve been through and respect that".

"My solidarity is with Maryam Nawaz Sharif; she is like my daughters, she has suffered a lot in her struggle, and we stand by her.

"My message to Pakistani people is that we have not united together to save democracy in the country and with the press, we will win through this," he added.

Pakistan has become a laboratory of experiments: Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz then addressed participants via video link from London, marking his political comeback after more than a year. He started by thanking Zardari, saying he would not forget the love with which he spoke to him a day earlier.

Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan has become a laboratory of "such experiments" and every child knows that no prime minister has been allowed to complete five years in power. It’s not even taken into account that the democratic structure of the country is demolished due to such tactics and the public loses faith in the system.

PML-N supremo said that democracy is in danger and he agrees with Maulana Fazlur Rehman that we need to make this conference purposeful or people will be disappointed. "If we don’t do it [take a step] today, when will we?" asked Nawaz.

Speaking about the 2018 elections, he said the the primary reason for the current problems were those people who "hijacked the people’s mandate by putting inexperienced people in power".

He also repeated opposition’s allegation that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), with the connivance of PTI, was carrying out only "selective accountability".

Bilawal demands level playing field

PPP Chairman Bilawal, during his address emphasised the need for the APC to come up with a proper plan of action for "gaining freedom for the people" and said people are expecting a plan not just statements and resolutions.

“If the elected representatives of people cannot even speak in parliament and get their votes re-counted, what hope the nation will have?" Bilawal asked. He demanded that the opposition be given a level-playing field.

Bilawal Bhutto said “If our voices do not go to people through media, we will have to go directly to them". We will not just challenge the government from the streets but also from the parliament, he added.

PPP leader also vowed to continue fighting to liberate the people from misery and torment. He also announced to honor decisions taken by the ongoing APC.

Govt has failed in every aspect: Shehbaz Sharif

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif took the mic next, saying that the government has failed in every aspect and “selected PM” has left poor people at mercy of the floods.

Four million people have lost their jobs, free medicines are no longer provided in the hospitals, price of sugar has crossed Rs100 and price of wheat is at record high during first two years of current government, he added.

Shehbaz Sharif further said that dictatorships in the country’s history has put a black mark on everything including democracy.

Talking about the 2018 elections, he said: "Remember when a selected government came into power and the selected prime minister promised the nation that the discrepancy in the elections, the disappearance of the RTS system, and the pre-engineering of election results would be investigated."

Shehbaz claimed that the committee formed to investigate had not made even "an inch of progress".

Two years of "selected" experiment have destroyed Pakistan: Bilawal

Moments before the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto in a tweet, said that two years of ‘selected’ experiment have disastrous consequences for Pakistan. Today Pakistan’s opposition parties will unite to hold this regime to account.”

He added Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has destroyed democracy, economy and foreign policy. Democracy is the best revenge, he added.

PPP recommendations

The opposition’s all parties conference against the government today will propose a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar, sources said.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will propose the motion in the APC. In the first phase of the movement, there will be a no-confidence motion and rallies will be conducted. The APC will have suggestions from all members, however, the final declaration will be unanimous.

PML-N recommendations

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also finalized its recommendations for APC.

According to sources, PML-N will present suggestion of midterm elections, public processions in November to send government packing, combined fund for anti-government campaign and weekly protests outside assemblies.

Sources also claimed that Maryam Nawaz was included into 11 member delegation to rebuff the reports of division in the party. The delegation is led by Opposition Leader of National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.