The PML-N President also urged President Asif Ali Zardari to restrain himself into the presidential role; otherwise, not only he himself but the elections would also become controversial which would not in the interest of the country. He said it was the politics which created the State of Pakistan, made it functional by devising rules and regulations under the Constitution of Pakistan through elected parliament. The politics had also played pivotal role in freeing the judiciary from dictatorial subjugation and now the politics would ensure the right to vote to the people of Pakistan, he added.
Emphasising the sanctity of ballot box, he said a government should come and go out only through ballot, "if we are serious in getting respectable status in the comity of nations." He added in the same breadth that both the government and the opposition had bestowed their confidence and trust in the ECP for free, fair and transparent elections.
He said the Constitution had been amended accordingly and a powerful caretaker setup would be in place within three days after the dissolution of assemblies. The PML-N President said both he and Shahbaz Sharif besides other party leaders were sidelined in 2008 elections under the garb of NRO. "Pervez Musharraf, agencies, Nazims and caretakers were active against us leaving the PML-N with a defeat on over 20 National Assembly seats. But we showed patience and avoided confrontation on organised rigging in 2008 polls and instead remained focused on a new beginning in Pakistan politics where past was buried for a bright future," he added.
He said PML-N challenged the establishment for the first time in the country and made sincere efforts to transform Pakistan into an honourable state where the sanctity of vote kept intact. "We refused to bow down the dictator who sent us Jeddah but I remained committed to my words that I can quit politics but no compromise with a dictator like Pervez Musharraf," he said.
Nawaz said "Pervez Musharraf was not in favour of our return to the country; therefore, our nomination papers were rejected. Let me say the judges of Pervez Musharraf were enemies of Pakistan and they had no sympathies for the country in their hearts," he said, adding, "I salute media and lawyers for their unstinting role in challenging the despotism of Musharraf."
The PML-N leader further said that only a transparent democracy could guarantee real liberty and transparent democracy could only be ensured through free and fair elections. He expressed his firm resolve to steer the country out of prevailing crises with the support of masses. He was confident that people would vote the PML-N in the coming elections from Kyber to Karachi. He also said the situation in Balochistan would be brought under control through support of Baloch people and he would soon meet Akhter Mengal.
Nawaz also paid tributes to the services of Khawaja Rafique Shaheed for democracy and said he laid down his life for the country and now his sons Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique were engaged in service to the masses. He also lauded the efforts of Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said President Asif Zardari had not only destroyed his political party but also pushed the country to the verge of disaster through loot and corruption. He said Zardari would be defeated in the political arena with the support of the people. Among others, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Akhter Mengal (on telephone), Asma Jehangir, Hamid Mir, Liaquat Baloch and others spoke on the occasion.