ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Monday that US-backed anti-terror operations have left Pakistan "drowned in blood," issuing some of his harshest criticism yet of President Pervez Musharraf.
Nawaz made his comments to a rally of 3,000 supporters at Barakao near Islamabad. It was his first major campaign speech since Bhutto's killing and it contained some of his harshest criticism yet of Musharraf and the alliance with Washington forged after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"Musharraf has destroyed Pakistan. He is blindly following America's orders," Nawaz said. "The whole of Pakistan is drowned in blood."
He alleged the army left "girls riddled with bullets" when it raided Lal Masjid and female seminary in the capital last year. The government said more than 100 extremists were killed in the operation, and disputed claims that female students also died.
Nawaz said his party will take revenge of assassination of Benazir Bhutto after coming into power.
"When we came into power, we will take revenge of shahadat of Benazir Bhutto and blood letting of poor workers", he said.
Former premier Nawaz Sharif demanded the formation of a national unity government without President Pervez Musharraf to hold free, fair and transparent polls in the country.
"National government without Musharraf is the only solution to the present crisis faced by the country," he said.
PML-N chief reiterated his demand for formation of a national unity government to hold free, fair and transparent polls in the country.
He said that PML-N would however not accept a national unity government headed by President Pervez Musharraf.
"I have never accepted Pervez Musharraf as president," Nawaz Sharif said.
The PML-N leader condemned what he called "provocative" statements against him and PPP by former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi.
Nawaz Sharif said his government had served the country and the masses by undertaking various development projects including construction of motorway and Mera Ghar Scheme for the poor.
He said it was during his government that Pakistan became a nuclear power whereas afterwards, he alleged the country had lost its creditability in the world as a result of flawed policies.
Nawaz Sharif said the government during last several years had disappointed the masses who were facing flour, gas and power crises.
He said the government was responsible for crushing hike of prices of foodstuff as flour was selling now at Rs22-25 per kilogram which Rs7 during his second tenure.
The former premier urged the people not to vote for a party which was "responsible for Lal Masjid raid and operations in tribal areas."
Masses should vote for PML-N candidates in order to bring a change in the country, he said.
Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was warmly welcomed by party leaders and workers when he arrived at Barakao from Murree.
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