LAHORE, Jan 3: PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has said his party is cooperating with the government not to allow anti-democratic forces to derail ‘hard-earned democracy’ in the country.

He was speaking at a meeting held by the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust and the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust at their auditorium in connection with 102nd anniversary of the founding of All-India Muslim League here on Saturday. Majid Nizami chaired the event.

The N-league leader said the party workers were demanding that the leadership should part with the government. “We have already left the government by abandoning the federal ministries, but now we are extending a limited cooperation to the government to save democracy which has been achieved after great struggle.”

The fact, he said, was that the government had not so far fulfilled most of the promises it had made with the people while assuming power after the general election. “It is following wrong policies.

Power loadshedding is being resorted to throughout the country and up to 18 hours at some places. No substantial relief has been given to the people in petroleum prices, though international prices of petrol have dropped from $140 to less than $40 per barrel.

“The gas prices too are coming down the world over, but in Pakistan the situation is just the opposite, making the poor man unable to afford such a situation.”

He said the people had voted the PPP for its manifesto. The main promise was that the party would implement the Charter of Democracy (CoD) which had made it clear that the government would take strict action against the elements that had done great harm to the country. “Pakistan can only be saved by implementing the charter,” he declared.

The PML-N leader said Pakistan had made little progress during the past 61 years and the conditions had gone so much uncertain that the people were asking one another if the country would survive. “If things remain like this, we shall not be able to face the world in the next 10 to 15 years.”

He said there were only two occasions of real happiness in the history of the country; one in May 1998 when nuclear tests were conducted and another in 1965 when the entire nation had demonstrated a unique spirit of patriotism when the PAF, particularly Mr MM Alam, had made history while defending Lahore against the Indian planes’ attack.

He deplored that the same spirit could not be maintained and as a result the eastern wing of the country got separated. He blamed the military rule for the dismemberment of Pakistan and deplored that the then military ruler Gen Yayha Khan’s body was given a 21-gun salute before burial and another ruler, Gen Pervez Mushraraf, was given a guard of honour while leaving the presidency.

He demanded that Musharraf should be stripped off all stars of honour and privileges and should be given a punishment that would serve as deterrent for others. He deplored that the new government was following most of the policies of the Musharraf government.

The fresh appointment of the deposed judges was not reinstatement as demanded by the lawyers and the nation, he said, urging the people to join the lawyers rally in March next for the reinstatement of the deposed judges. He said his party would join the long march of the lawyers.