News
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Nawaz reiterates demand for early elections
* PML-N president rejects notion of friendly opposition
* Says government’s policy on NATO beyond his comprehension
* PPP leader Enver Baig joins PML-N
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday demanded early polls in the country, saying that a longer rule of the government would multiply problems.
He was addressing a press conference along with former PPP senator Enver Baig, who announced his decision to join the PML-N.
Sharif said the nation was not ready to tolerate the sitting government anymore and the latter should better announce elections.
“Scandals of corruption have been emerging on a daily basis,” he said, and added that the “record increase” in corruption was evident to everyone.
He rejected the notion that the PML-N was a friendly opposition. “If we were friendly opposition, President Zardari would not have used the harsh language against us,” he said.
About the resumption of NATO supplies, Sharif said the PML-N had no confusion about the issue. “We have sought a guarantee about an end to drone strikes,” he added. The PML-N chief said the government’s policy on the NATO supply was beyond his comprehension. He, however, said that Pakistan and the US should sit together to address each other’s concerns because an “egoistic approach would not serve any purpose”.
“We don’t want to live in isolation. We have to live with the world. However, the world should take care of our concerns and respect our sovereignty and independence,” he said.
The PML-N leader appeared to support the president’s visit to India and the government’s award of MFN status to India, saying that the PML-N would support all “good steps” of the government.
Sharif said that imposing curfew was not a solution to unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that the government was not competent enough to resolve the issue.
He also denied that the PML-N had backtracked on the memo case. “The PML-N has the same stance it had on the first day and, if asked, I will appear in the court.”
The PML-N chief said that those who had quit the party to support a dictator would not be welcomed back. Separately, addressing the Islamabad High Court Bar, Sharif said the situation in Balochistan could be normalised within a day if the assassins of Akbar Bugti are punished.
He also urged the government to take notice of target killings in the province. He also called for immediate recovery of all ‘missing’ persons of Balochistan.
He also praised lawyers’ struggle against dictatorship and their efforts for a strong democracy in the country. tanveer ahmed/online
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
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