Nawaz Sharif urges to curb sectarian violence

Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chairman condemned provincial and federal governments’ failure to curb sectarian killings in Quetta, saying country could not be prosperous without harmony among different sects.

While addressing leaders of Shia-community, the PML-N chief observed, “The provincial government has completely failed to address the issues of Balochistan while the federal government appears to be helpless and an onlooker when it comes to Balochistan’s problems”.

He said that he had highlighted the issues faced by Hazara people at all available forums and will do so in future,” he added.

Expressing his resentment towards the unending sectarian killing of Hazara community members, he added, “The Government should have taken action against the terrorists spoiling peace in Quetta without even a seconds’ delay”.

He termed the attacks a conspiracy saying, it was meant to divide the people on ethnic and sectarian lines and the responsibility lies with everyone to play their role in quashing this conspiracy.

Later, while addressing a press conference in Raiwind, Sharif reiterated that if Pakistan took the lead in withdrawing troops from the glacier then India would definitely go ahead.

While replying to a query, he said that Kayani had seconded his statement. However, he refrained from commenting on Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s stance on his proposal.

The two-time former premier instead chose to remind everyone the circumstances leading up to his ouster from Islamabad, and subsequently Pakistan in 1999.

He added, “Considering my political career as two time prime minister, everyone should trust my opinion as I believe that if we withdraw the Army from Siachen, India would definitely withdraw it too”.

In his view, such a step would force both the countries to sit together and resolve the issue.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had said that Pakistan wants the resolution of the Siachen issue and other matters with India. However, he stopped short of advocating for a unilateral withdrawal.

The PML-N chief’s statements though came under fire from the Interior Minister who declared that every inch of Pakistan was sovereign and that even if there was a withdrawal, it would never be unilateral.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 20 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.