Why I support PML (N)

My friends asked me to give reasons why I support PML (N). I found this post and shared with them as it covers a lot of reasons. But still I felt there are many things that I need to share, many reasons why I support PML (N). So here we go…

The Team

It’s not only one person; it’s the team which makes goals achievable, things possible and hardships turning in success. Currently PML(N) has most credible, honorable and qualified team. When I say “I support PML(N)” it doesn’t mean I am just following one person blindly, it’s the team of credible people which I support. Contrary, saying “I support PML(N)” also doesn’t mean I am responsible for everyone in PML(N)’s words, there are many people in the party which I don’t support. Following are some front runner of Team PML(N) which I admire. I won’t be mentioning each member’s achievements and qualification because I believe you have internet and you know how to use “Google it” :) .

First Two Terms

Under this heading I will try to explain what PML(N) achieved when they came in power. I am only including those things which weren’t included in earlier mentioned article.

Economy:

GDP:
The strength of economy of any country can easily be determined by Growth Domestic Product (GDP).
PML(N) came in power for first time in end of 1990. GDP of Pakistan in the year was 5.42 and in the very next year it hit 7.57 but continuation in growth disrupted when National Assembly was dissolved by President just after 2 year and 6 month. In second term PML(N) leadership and qualified economist turned one of the worst growth rates (just 1.70) into 4.18 in just 2 years.
Source: Transparency International Website
Inflation Annual Percentage:
Inflation annual Percentage defines percentage at which inflation has grown with reference to previous financial year. During PML(N)’s second tenure Inflation annual percentage was lowest in the decade. Pakistan’s average percentage was above 10% where in their second term it dropped to lowest of 4.1%.
Source: Transparency International Website
Motorway, the Backbone of Today’s Economy:
Motorway from Islamabad to Lahore (M2) was initiated in first term of PML(N) which was originally an eight road project. After coming into power, Benazir shorten it to just 4 roads saying “country doesn’t need such project”. Somehow in second term PML(N) managed to successfully complete the project with 6 roads. Today time is proving how the project is “fulfilling country’s needs”.

Poverty:

After coming into government in 1990, within two year Poverty decreased from 37.4% to 25.7%. It hit a max rise of 28.6% in PPP’s second term but PML N’s second term pulled it back to 24%. Although it rose to 32% in 1999 but that was understandable by fact of sanctions on Pakistan post 1998 nuclear tests, Kargil and military take over.
With the terms of average 3 years both times PML(N) somehow managed to gather old crap and bring things to normal and put Pakistan on better path. Again they did it only in 3 year term both time which Musharaf couldn’t do in continuous 9 years. It was also proved in provided paper by World Bank that during PML N’s term the inequality in resource distributions was also minimal in both terms of PML(N).
Source: Poverty Paper by World Bank

Corruption:

I won’t be boring you with the useless big words rather I will prefer to redirect you to internationally recognized facts.
In 1995 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International was formed. The propose of that was to categorize courtiers on the criteria of corruption. Corruption Perceptions Index is value from 0 to 10.0 which defines the amount fairness, justice and rights in the participating country. The more CPI of a country will represent less corrupt. In 1996 Pakistan’s CPI was 1.0 and it was 2nd in the list of most corrupt countries among 54 participating countries. In PML(N)’s second term within two years the CPI rose to 2.7 in 1998 from 1.0. Again I am not claiming that Pakistan became the corruption free country but it was guided on the path of betterment. It take decades for nations to improve but if someone have guided to such change in just two years then he could’ve done better given full terms.
Source: Transparency International Website

Quality of Work:

Almost every project done in Musharaf-Q government given fixes at least twice within two years of development but even today you find 15 year old projects in better condition than of those done 5-6 years back. Apart from development the team always made sure that all government employees do their job in proper way and did whatever they can to get the best output including famous “Chaapy” of Shehbaz Shareef.

Releasing the Industries, Promoting Investment:

After nationalization all industries were taken under government control without giving any compensation to owners. Socially one might think it was a very good step but on practical ground it was simply unjustified with owners and to those people who had given all their belonging and efforts to their business. On the other hand it also encouraged employee unions, strikes, work breakdown and other acts of “hurdle in production”. PML(N) freed the industrial sector and empowered the private investments by giving rebates and tax exemptions on production in Pakistan.

Relationship with India

PML(N) always believed in good relationships with neighbors WITHOUT compromising on own ideology, integrity and dignity. It was first time in History of Pakistan that an Indian Prime Minister came to Pakistan to discuss the solution of Kashmir Issue. My heart burns when all allegations by Indian Media on Pakistan are well accepted by our ministers. Even India’s air force plane violating Pakistan’s territory is justified by Pakistan’s Information Minister.

Concluding:

I am not saying that Pakistan was at top of the world but PML(N)’s team took our country from nothing to a better path which could’ve led us to much better Pakistan but to prosper and shine, continuous improvements are required. With just 2.5 years and 3.5 years terms they did more than better.

The Qualities

Two Terms of 6 year vs. One Term of 9 years:

Many people ask me if you believe in doing practical work then why you don’t support Musharaf and Q as they did a lot in their term.
To answer that I would like to remind a fact that If you observe the economy of Pakistan, whenever the government is turned over the next year’s Growth fell below 2.0. This is worst for any country. All that matters is continuity. Musharaf and all other dictators have ruled for very long terms. With continuous ruling of 9 years Musharaf done a lot but it still couldn’t justified issues with how the work done, as mentioned earlier (giving projects to third parties, quality of work, not involving govt. institutions). On the other hand PML(N) just had one term of 2.5 years and another of 3.5 years and that too wasn’t continuous i.e. they faced worst growth rate both times. But they didn’t take it as excuse but rather made it better.

Strengthening the Institutions:

Almost all development projects in PPP and Musharaf terms were carried out by third parties and private firms on contracts which always concluded that there was a big commission involved in such contracts. But if your look on the other hand PML(N) always strengthens the government institution. You won’t find any private firm doing a development project rather NLC, TEPA and other government institutions doing the job. This fact is not only limited to development projects. In medical, health, education and other sectors as well.

Post Year 1999:

The Exile

The obvious cold war between Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was meant to have an end, either way. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister at that time, played well within rules of constitution and used his constitutional powers as PM to remove Chief of Army Staff. But for Gen. Pervez Musharraf everything was fair in war, following footsteps of Army Leaders he took over the country’s charge and disabled the constitution.
It was a “Lost War” for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Cutting long story short Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was sent to prison and later exiled from the country on conditions that he would not participate in country’s politics for next 10 years.
Many of friends claimed it as “a cowered act” but they never realize that after loosing a war all that matters is “Survival”. Because only survival can give a warrior chance to rebuild himself and fight again which exactly he did, coming back in 2007 to fight. If escaping as survival from a lost war is a cowered act then how come all great warriors of the history like Tipu Sultan and others were not referred to cowered when they survived after loosing war and then rebuilt themselves to fight again?
I am not talking subjectively and comparing Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif with any of historical warrior but just want to mention the importance of “Survival” after loosing everything. Today Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is the only leader who was kicked out by Establishment and still alive!!!

Victimization and Behind Bars but Still No Compromise:

In the era of political victimization of Musharaf, the leadership of PML(N) remained firm and never compromised on principle stand. Musharaf tried to contact Ch. Nisar and Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and gave the option of Prime Minister-Ship if they leave Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef but the leadership stayed firmed. Many leaders of PML(N) were captured in Jail without any case or any trial where they faced brutal beating up by authorities but they didn’t change their stance.

Charter of Democracy:

In 2006 Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto met and they agreed upon to form a document which later named as Charter of Democracy. The purpose of the document was rectify the mistakes that both parties (PPP and PML(N)) have done in 1990s. The main agenda was to removing monopoly of single party in government, making the The Judiciary independent, defined roll of armed forces and intelligence agencies.

APC and APDM:

In 2007 All Parties Conference was initiated by PML(N) and invited all political forces in Pakistan except PML(Q) and MQM which was not considered due to reasons explained in later headings. APC later formed an Alliance named All Parties Democratic Movement which included Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Awami National Party. PPP which was present at APC didn’t participate in APDM because of negotiations between Benazir Bhutto and Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The biggest surprise for me was Imran Khan asked to make an additional clause in APDM to boycott MQM stating the party as “Murderer of hundreds”, which today for him is a credible party.

Firm Stand on 12th May Incident:

Dozens of innocent lives were lost on 12th May 2007 when Sacked Chief Justice came to Karachi and MQM claimed CJ will not be able to exit from airport and that’s what happened but at the cost of dozens innocent lives. All political parties held MQM responsible for incident as they claimed that they won’t let CJ enter in Karachi at any cost. PPP, JUI and ANP have forgotten that many years ago and so did Imran Khan recently praising MQM and Altaf Bhai. But the only party standing firm on the issue even today is PML(N).

Firm Stand on Laal Masjid Incident:

PML(Q) and MQM were the partners when hundreds of innocent students lost their lives in Siege of Lal Masjid and Benazir Bhutto supported it from the start but it was PML(N) who stood firm on the issue and spoke against the military action against Lal Masjid at every platform.

3rd November Emergency:

Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared emergency on 3rd November sacking Judiciary. Over the years PPP, Q and MQM tried hard to legitimate his act but PML(N) was the only hurdle on the way (as 2/3rd majority couldn’t be achieved without them).

Alliance With PPP and Good Bye Cabinet:

The alliance formed after 2008 election with PPP was on principle issues. Restoration of democracy, reverting the constitution in it original (non pro military) form and implementation of Charter of Democracy. But PPP without Benazir Bhutto tuned out worst. PML(N) left the cabinet on the principle issues.

Firm Stand on Judiciary Restoration:

Restoration of Democracy was in Election Manifesto of PML(N) and in the end it was the only party left that kept the word. All parties that participate in Judiciary Restoration with Lawyers change their stance. Starting from PPP which, soon after coming into power, had vague stance in start and later clearly stating that they will not restore the judiciary. Imran Khan motivated youth and promised to fight with Lawyers till the restoration of Judiciary. IK led the long march in June 2008, thousands of groups gathered from all over Pakistan at Islamabad for “Dharna” till restoration of Judiciary. But out of no where a message from Leadership of Long March 2008 came to call of “Dharna”.
PML(N) was asked not to participate in the first long march by Lawyers Leadership stating that it’s a Lawyers Movement and they don’t want political involvement. However Punjab Government supported and helped workers of the movement in every way that could be possible.
Later Lawyers Leadership requested Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to participate in the movement. In early 2009 when federal government used “Extra Constitutional Formed Judiciary” to overturn the Punjab Government enforcing Governor Law in the Punjab, there was no point in stopping for PML(N). The second long march started from Lahore to Islamabad led by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif ended after less than 24 hours restoring all Judiciary to prior 3rd November 2007 state.
Many people called it act of selfishness but i respectfully disagree because Lawyers Leadership requested PML(N) formally this time and I know one thing no worker on the road was disappointed, standing alone on road after years of preparation, on vanished leadership.

Denied Opportunity to Turnover Government:

It was matter of time in second long march that could turnover government of PPP. But that could only bring back the culture of 1990s i.e. 2-3 years government terms resulting in high possibility of military takeover. People never realize that turnover of any government with un/extra constitutional way always result in uncertainty which directly impact country’s economics, foreign investment and growth. If you see history of Pakistan’s Economy, the growth after every un/extra constitutional government turnover resulted in worst of growth rate of country.

Current Situation of Punjab:

2 years back a classmate of mine, supporter of PPP, was claiming that within a month Punjab Government will liquidate. I am still waiting for that to happen. If anyone today denies the work in Punjab done by Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif then either he is kidding or its just “MAIN NAHI MANTAAA!!!”. After that only argument remains is “All good things done only in Lahore”. Well the answer is very simple, recently model villages launched for flood affected area, did Flood hit Lahore? A project of proving IT Labs completed recently in 36 districts, does Lahore covers 36 districts? The answer is again NO.

Some Clarifications:

Here are some “Half-Facts” that are commonly used to humiliate PML(N) leadership without admitting the actual “Realities”.

PML(N) is created By Establishment:

If anyone can remember the year 1988 then how can he forget 1999? If anyone says that PML(N) is created by establishment then how can he forget about the fact that it was kicked out by “Establishment” in 1999? From 12 October 1999 the party has suffered and struggled a lot but never compromised on principle stand. One must notice that if he is going backwards from 2011 to 1988, he must pass through 1999.

Sharif Family Have Robbed The Nation To Build Own Assets:

Sharif Family is doing business from 1930. The major boom in business came in 1971, was then they were in Government? Ans is simply NO. Their business never defaulted, always made profit and always paid taxes. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif became CM Punjab in November 1990 for the first time. They had earnings of 40 years with them and critics just ignore the fact and make statement like the family was below the poverty line in 1990.

Final Conclusion:

I stated all the facts with supporting sources and political facts. These are the reasons why I support PML(N) and its leadership.
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My Leadership may not be perfect, but it’s Goods less Bads that made me support PML(N)"