Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri claimed on Saturday that Nawaz Sharif has secretly got closed around 143 corruption cases against him in connivance with the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Addressing his supporters, Qadri said Nawaz Sharif misused his authority for the settlement of corruption cases registered against him by the NAB after coming into power. He alleged that corruption cases were closed in connivance with the NAB chairman - a handpicked person.

He lamented that supremacy of the Constitution and parliament remained center of debate during the joint sitting of parliament, unfortunately the parliamentarians failed to redress problems of common man as 45 percent of countryman were living below the poverty line. The prevailing system failed to deliver benefits of real democracy to the people who elected them, he added.

He maintained that this rotten system blessed fake degree holders to become members of assemblies while educated and competent youth was struggling for jobs. "Go Nawaz Go has now become the slogan of the entire nation as people wanted to get rid of Nawaz Sharif's corrupt regime", he added. While slamming the former PPP-led government and the incumbent government of PML-N, Qadri said the sky-rocketing inflation was witnessed during the two democratic governments, which is worst than the former military ruler General Musharraf's (retired) dictatorial regime.

Electricity tariff has been increased manifolds in the two democratic governments as compared to the Musharraf regime, as cost of electricity per unit was Rs 3 during former military ruler's tenure, which increased to Rs 7.5 per unit when the PPP was in power, while presently it touched Rs 15 per unit.

He said the current system was aimed at safeguarding the corruption of rulers, while "we want a system which could guarantee health, education, food and all other basic necessities to the masses at their door steps". He questioned that what the democratic governments have given to the poor people of the country. "No one talked about pains of the oppressed and standard of living of the poor in the joint session of parliament. We want such a system where institutions can hold heads of the government accountable and there should be one law for both for the weak and the powerful in the society," Qadri asserted. "This movement will herald a beginning of a new era in Pakistan," he added.

On this occasion Pakistan Muslim League Quaid leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain also addressed PAT supporters and said the country was on the verge of collapse, asking the army to help country steer out of the present crisis. He criticised the PM speech to the joint session of parliament, saying that Nawaz Sharif has not said anything meaningful which could help in resolving the current political situation in the country.

Source: www.brecorder.com