Liars cannot lead you: Nawaz

Liars cannot lead a nation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a charged crowd in Kahuta on Friday, days after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) planned 'lockdown' of Islamabad on Nov 2 turned into a 'thanksgiving' rally.

"Someone who lies to you continuously cannot represent you," he said.

In a veiled reference to the opposition, the premier said, "They say 'Pakistan is progressing'. They know that gas and electricity are coming to these areas, that a two-lane expressway is being built. That's why they are posing obstacles, so that progress is halted and Pakistan is taken back to 50 years ago."

"The ones who hold rallies, their agenda is not one of success."

"The election has to happen in 2018, but you are cheering for me now. And this is precisely what our opponents cannot stomach," the prime minister said.

"Who is responsible for the electricity shortage in Pakistan?" the premier asked, adding, "I remember a time when there would be loadshedding for 16-17 hours."

"The ones who try to stop progress, you will not let their designs succeed. You have halted their designs. You have shown them their true reflection. You already saw what happened a few days ago," he said referring to the 'lockdown.'

"I do not wish to say anything, I am keeping my tongue in check. But you are aware what expectations they had and what the outcome was then."

"We are hard at work... No one can point accusatory fingers towards us. You have three and a half years of our work before you," Nawaz said.

The prime minister encouraged others to join hands with the party for progress and development in Pakistan.

"I also love you. I love you too," the PM said, in an oft-repeated endearment.

He added, "I didn't come here empty-handed today. The regular development programmes will continue. This is only the beginning. There will be bigger things in the future."

He announced that the Rawalpindi-Kahuta road overhead bridge will be turned into a highway," promising "Work on it will begin soon."

"After this, in Kahuta tehsil and Kallar Sayidan, all union councils will receive electricity and gas."

The premier also promised to convert the Kahuta Tehsil Hospital into a state-of-the-art hospital, relieving residents of the need to travel to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for treatment.

The premier announced 12 schools will be converted into higher secondary schools, especially for the education of girls.

"Girls often have to travel far to attend school. We want to bring schools to your doorsteps," he said, adding, "The development will bring a wave of progress in this region."

"It won't be long before a university is built here," he said.

Funds will be invested into the development of 100 kilometres of roads in Kahuta and Kallar Sayidan, PM Nawaz said.

"This is your money, it should be used for your betterment. It is not my money."

"We will make this place beautiful," he said, in a bid to encourage tourism to the area.

"Thousands of people visited Murree, Naran, Kaghan," he said. "They should come here too."

The Prime Minister said that he has raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly for the past three years, adding that he "Will continue to speak about it. we are not afraid of anyone."