Thanks Army for support in handling unrest; Recognises economic recovery with key indicators showing improvement
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the need for taking tough decisions to rid the country of politics of agitation and ensure stability.
“We have to decide whether we save Pakistan or allow sit-ins to take place,” the prime minister said while addressing the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
PM Shehbaz’s remarks come after PTI’s much-hyped “do-or-die” protest, which saw clashes between the supporters of the party and the law enforcers, closure of roads and educational institutions.
The premier said that there was no one even imagined to launch a “onslaught” of Islamabad before, stressing that tough decisions will have to be taken now through mutual consultation.
“We have two paths which we can take and it is obvious that we have to take the path of development and prosperity,” said Shehbaz.
“I commend the police, Rangers, and all law enforcement personnel for their heroic efforts in defending peace and security,” he added.
Speaking about the economic losses faced by the country due to violent protests, PM Shehbaz said that the businesses were shut as life in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi came to a halt.
“Our stock exchange, which had crossed 99,000, plunged by over 4,000 points yesterday due to the riots,” he regretted. “The economy faced a loss of Rs190 billion daily [due to the protests].”
He pointed out that shops and factories had been closed for several days, leaving daily wage workers and vendors unable to earn a living.
He stated that even Pakistan’s most vocal critics were now acknowledging the progress in the economy, calling it “nothing short of a miracle.” “The economy is recovering, and the key figures are working in unison for the good of the country,” he said.
Recalling the time when the Imran Khan-founded party had staged a sit-in in 2014, he said the rioters caused violence for 126 days at a time when Chinese president had to visit the country. However, he added, the high-level visit was cancelled due to the PTI’s sit-in.
He further highlighted that the rioters had once again tried to create chaos ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the capital.
“There was a wave of concern among our guests whether to visit Pakistan or not,” he said.
Shedding a light on the Belarusian president’s visit to Pakistan, the prime minister said the two countries will sign agreements in January.
The PM said that had the courts given strict punishment to the criminals of May 9, we would not have seen this day. “We have to decide after much deliberation and think about which direction we need to take,” he added.
Premier Shehbaz also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is suffering from a rise of terrorism, adding that dozens of people were martyred in the Kurram clashes.
“They [KP government] should have [resolved] the Parachinar and Kurram matters but they attacked Islamabad using government resources,” he added.
The prime minister further said that this was not a movement but a “sedition” and there is no room for sedition in politics. “This is a conspiracy and it must be ended at all costs,” he added.
“We’ll break hand that wants to damage Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz stressed.
In conclusion, PM Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan’s future could not be sacrificed to political disruption. “We will not allow these agents of chaos to destroy Pakistan’s future,” he said, calling on the nation to unite for the greater good of the country.
