BADIN, Jan 17: The president of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif, has said that people will get rid of inefficient rulers within eight weeks and the government will be on a ‘quick march’ in March this year.

He said that people wanted change through constitutional means but the elements who shied away from serving people were now looking for ways to escape from elections and sabotage the constitution. “What type of struggle is it which they are claiming to wage from inside a bullet-proof bunker?” he said.

He was addressing a large gathering here on Thursday over the phone from Lahore. It was held to mark the 26th death anniversary of the slain peasant leader Fazil Rahu.

He said that people believed in democracy and wanted to bring change through vote and not through long marches. “We are prepared to go to jails to secure people’s right of vote,” he said.

He apologised to people for failing to be among them because of inclement weather and said Fazil Rahu worked ceaselessly to improve the lives of peasants and his politics was aimed at serving Sindh because if Sindh was prosperous it would make the country strong.

He urged people to follow the late Rahu’s path who fought against injustice and exploitation and said the PML-N would complete his mission. If the PML-N’s government had not been toppled it would have eliminated corruption and ended poverty, he said.

Mr Sharif said that his party would live up to people’s expectations if it was voted to power. He said his government would serve people sincerely and bring prosperity to Sindhi brethren and urged people to forge unity in their ranks for the sake of the country.

Former Sindh chief minister and PML-N leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi said in his speech that every citizen was insecure except Asif Ali Zardari.

“In past, the Bilawal House was a place where important political decisions were taken but now it is being used for making decisions on how to multiply corruption,” he said.

He believed that the PML-N would form the next government at the centre and in Sindh and would take back looted money from the plunderers. His party had a clear agenda to serve the masses and it would never compromise on principles, he said.

Ismail Rahu, former provincial minister and PML-N leader, said the PML-N was the only party which had the capability to resolve people’s problems. “Let’s launch a united struggle to educate people in making the correct use of their vote,” he said.

He highlighted his father’s contribution to creating political awareness among the people and said if he were alive today he must have waged an untiring struggle against corruption.

He said that his father began his political career in a dark era when a dictator was ruling the country and successfully mobilised people to pursue their struggle for their rights.The gathering adopted a number of resolutions, calling for abolition of the the Sindh People’s Local Government Act and withdrawal of cases lodged against political leaders and activists. It condemned the MQM’s call for Sindh’s division and termed Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march a conspiracy against democracy.

Former NA speaker Elahi Bux Soomro, PML-N leaders Mohammad Aslam Rahu, Nehal Hashmi and PML-F’s Syed Pappoo Shah also spoke at the gathering, which was attended by PML-N leader Mamnoon Hussain, vice-president of Awami Tehreek Syed Alam Shah and PML-N Sindh women wing president Sorath Thebo.