LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has stressed on the government to adopt the way of dialogue in solving the issue of terrorism and warned that the country couldn’t afford any further turmoil.

He added had President Asif Zardari fulfilled his pledge in April and restored the judges, the crises faced by the country could have been averted. He demanded that former president Musharraf must be held answerable before parliament for his “unconstitutional deeds” of nine years.

The former premier stated this while addressing a gathering of PML-N workers at Jati Umra, Raiwind, on Sunday, held in connection with October 12, the day observed as ‘Defence of Democracy Day’ to condemn the ouster of a democratic government by a military dictator nine years ago.

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, central leader of the PML-N Ishaq Dar and Zakia Shahnawaz also spoke on the occasion. Nawaz said the country needed to be governed by a national policy, not by the Musharraf policy, which had greatly damaged the roots of the country. He said dictatorship had spoiled 33 years of our independence due to which the country was facing severe problems, including terrorism and unemployment, adding the repeated assaults of dictatorship on democratic governments and institutions had distorted the face of the country.

He said due to the wrong polices of Musharraf, the country was once again holding the begging bowl. “The nation has to stop the way of military dictatorship forever,” said Nawaz. The PML-N Quaid further said there was a time when India conducted nuclear tests and in response to that threat, Pakistan also conducted five nuclear tests despite pressure from the US. He claimed Pakistan was on the road to progress when the dictatorship ousted the democratic government.

He said the Constitution was not merely a piece of paper and no one could be allowed to abrogate it according to his or her will. He said no dictator in history had been held answerable for his misdeeds but added that Pervez Musharraf should be questioned for his wrongdoings of the last nine years.

He said Musharraf should be questioned why the ‘so-called’ terrorists were handed over to other countries and money was earned by selling them. He should be asked before parliament why he subverted the Constitution, removed 60 judges from their office, adding indemnity for Musharraf would be regretted.

The PML-N Quaid further said it was unfortunate that wrong steps of former president Musharraf were legitimised rather than being reversed. “We reluctantly came out of the federal government but it is also regretted that President Asif Zardari didn’t honour his promise.”

He further said it was a very critical time and the country couldn’t afford further turmoil, and the government should deliver now. Nawaz said problems could be resolved if the government formed a national policy with the PML-N. He said the PML-N was out to support President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in improving country’s economic situation and the threat of terrorism.