The meeting, which held with PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif in the chair, also discussed current political situation and other developments. The participants presented various proposals to further strengthen the roots of the PML-N in Sindh. Sources claimed that the meeting also evolved strategy for contesting the forthcoming elections in Sindh. One of the participants floated the proposal of fielding top leaders for contesting elections from Karachi, sources claimed.
Among others the meeting was attended by Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Elahi Buksh Soomro, Ameer Buksh Bhutto, Liaquat Jatoi, Mushahidullah Khan, Syed Nihal Hashmi, Iqbal Zafar Jhaggra, Ahsan Iqbal and Pervaiz Rasheed. Addressing the meeting, PML-N President said they had played their due role, considering it national obligation to help complete the tenure of sitting parliament respecting the public mandate given in 2008 polls.
He said the PML-N joined the government in 2008 in the interest of the country and its people but seeing the lack of interest on the part of the federal government towards resolution of people's problems and its failure to keep its promises, PML-N quit the government within a few weeks. Nawaz said PML-N had created hurdles for President Asif Zardari otherwise he (Zardari) was bent upon to take such steps which can weaken democracy in the country, adding PPP and its allies were not sincere to the restoration of peace and tranquillity in Karachi.
He said that killing of innocent people in Karachi was a matter of concern and shock. "If given opportunity by the people, PML-N will attach top priority to the restoration of law and order in Karachi and the elements destroying peace and harmony in Karachi will be dealt with an iron hand," he said. Moreover, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has condemned the government's attack on autonomy of the HEC by appointing a Federal Secretary as Executive Director HEC and removing Executive Director of HEC Professor Dr Sohail H Naqvi in an illegal manner.
A statement issued by the PML-N says targeting of the HEC is sabotaging the future of this nation in real sense by destroying the foundation of excellence in higher education. "It is an attempt to politicise the universities for political motives. HEC has been one of the few public sector organisations which produced excellent results because under its Act it has been operating as an autonomous body led by eminent professionals. Now the present Government wishes to destroy all of this work with one illegal notification jeopardising the future of hundreds of thousands of bright meritorious students who are the future of this country."
"Today our universities are being considered among the best in the world, when other developing countries including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Jordan, Vietnam and Commonwealth countries are adapting the model of HEC being one of the best models for higher education development the government is destroying this efficient and corruption-free institution," the PML-N adds.
The PML-N statement said the government had contravened the Supreme Court order of April 2011 by appointing a bureaucrat as Executive Director, whereas the court's order has categorically asked the government not to violate HEC Act 2002. Legally, according to the HEC Ordinance, the Commission has the power to make all the appointments at HEC. "This move by the federal government to destroy autonomy of HEC through Establishment Division is to be condemned in the strongest possible manner as it will destroy the future of this nation by reversing the globally noticed progress made in the higher education sector during last decade.
"If PML-N comes into power, it will give top priority to education, and not only will preserve the autonomy of HEC but enhance its role as well so that the youth of Pakistan able to take advantage of the many opportunities available nationally and contribute to the socio-economic development of Pakistan, so we become a knowledge economy and power," the PML-N statement adds.