LAHORE, Nov 24: Muslim League-N president Nawaz Sharif on Thursday gave a new interpretation to “asset” in response to Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan’s “asset declaration” demand when he said on Tuesday that “the people of Pakistan were my biggest asset and I would continue serving them for the rest of my life”.

Addressing around 200 recipients of vehicles under the Yellow Cab Scheme here on Thursday, the former prime minister insisted: “Office or no office, I want to see my people and the country attain high position in the comity of nations and I will not rest till the goal is achieved.”

He said some politicians (an obvious reference to Imran Khan) were trying to find their way into politics by “maligning others”. This, he said, was a highly “detestable trend,” and the media must discourage such trends in politics by checking such behaviours and politicians. Those with tainted past were now out to “malign others”, he added.

“No one has ever been able to prove corruption charges against me and my family and when it came to framing me in false charges, I was booked on hijacking, not corruption charges,” he said.

The PPP government had lost moral authority to rule, as it was doing nothing but “begging around” at the slightest of excuses, he said.

“This is against the dignity of any nation, and such rulers must be removed from their offices,” Nawaz insisted and assured: “If voted to power, I would never beg to anyone.”

Talking about the writ petition he filed on the memo issue, he said that he had gone to the court for the sake of the nation. “The entire episode must be made transparent; the nation must know who did what in the entire scandal.”

When asked whether the PML-N intended to demand putting Hussain Haqqani on the Exit Control List, he said the matter was in the court and if needed, the party would place all demands there.

He said on coming to power, “we will provide interest-free loans to the skilled people so that they could become self-employed.” He disclosed that cab scheme vehicles were purchased at lower rate than the market price, saving Rs960 million for which the chief minister and the chief secretary deserve appreciation.

Nawaz Sharif said 20,000 vehicles were being distributed through transparent balloting this year under the scheme. He said he would ask the Punjab government to give as many vehicles to unemployed people every year. Congratulating the successful applicants, he said that those who could not get vehicles this year would have a chance next year.