LAHORE, June 8: Provision of justice and education to the have-nots and uplift of agriculture sector will be on the top of priority list of the newly-elected chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif.

“No society can survive without justice. We have to declare emergency in the education sector while agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” said Shahbaz after being elected chief minister for the second time, during a special session of the Punjab Assembly on Sunday.

Shahbaz, who got 265 votes out of a house of 342 members during the ascertainment process that continued for 55 minutes or so, declared himself `the chief servant of the people’ while seeking cooperation of the house to ensure rule of law, access to justice and provision of basic amenities to everyone.

He said a complaint cell would be established at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat where the staff would not go home before redressing the grievances of complainants.

Vowing not to take revenge from those who unleashed a `reign of oppression’ on the PML-N, the PPP and other opposition parties, Shahbaz said those who looted national wealth would not be spared and dealt with under the law.

He urged the chief of army staff to take action against all such men in uniform who tortured political workers and leaders just to please Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired).

The previous regime, he said, failed to address people’s problems and wasted time in leisure and merrymaking resulting in suffering for people. “The previous rulers spent Rs2.5 billion for their personal image building but did nothing to ameliorate the lot of the masses. For the last eight years, they continued raising slogans in favour of a man in uniform. Had they utilised their energies for overcoming water shortage, the situation would have been altogether different today when we are facing shortfall of electricity. Bhasha Dam could have been built in six years. All this is only because of bad policies of previous regime,” the chief minister said adding that he would request Gen Musharraf to tender his resignation immediately.

“The days of the dictatorial regime of Gen Musharraf are numbered as the people have given their verdict in the February 18 elections,” he said and added that the return of democracy had been the result of the struggle of the political workers of the PPP and PML-N in particular. “The sacrifice of Ms Benazir Bhutto in this regard has no match,” he said.

During the colonial rule in 1884, the salary of a judge was Rs4,000 but in 1997, it was only Rs17,000 per month. “It is very necessary that the salaries of subordinate judiciary be increased so that they could provide justice to people without any fear or pressure,” he said.

Pledging a uniform education system in the province, Shahbaz said the Punjab government would sponsor all such students who would get admission to professional colleges and universities on merit but lacked resources to pursue their dreams.

He also promised that by the end of the next year, availability of computers would be ensured in all the schools of Punjab.

Regarding agriculture, he said the sector had been a major contributor to the national economy. “We have land, resources and manpower but even then we are considered a developing country. What we lack is the will to work,” he said.

The chief minister said his government would concentrate on power production by setting up dams on canals. “We would produce 350 megawatts of electricity from the canal water, eliminate fake medicines and pesticides within three months and introduce a comprehensive healthcare programme, especially for the poor.

He also urged the opposition members to join hands with the treasury benches for the restoration of `true democracy’.

Praising the working of Dost Muhammad Khosa during the transitional period, he said if the young and senior, hardworking and committed politicians join hands they could do wonders. The PML-N chief, before concluding his speech, appreciated the wisdom of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

“Difference of opinion does not mean that there is a rift between PPP and the PML-N. Both the political forces want restoration of the judiciary but there are differences over the modalities,” he said while expressing the optimism that the judges would soon be restored.