News
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Some circles have twisted my remarks
* Punjab CM says some portions of his speech were reported ‘out of context’ and an attempt was made to attach unrelated meanings to his words
Staff Report
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that some circles have misreported and twisted his address at the Jamia Naeemia on March 14 (Sunday), an official press release said on Monday.
According to the statement, the CM said that some portions of his speech were reported “out of context” and an attempt was made to attach unrelated meanings to his words.
He said that his words had come in response to questions raised by a journalist who said that he had warned the Sharifs last year that they ought to beware after having removed Pervez Musharraf. According to the statement, the journalist had said, “Your policies are against America and you are not taking their dictation. Local and foreign forces have become active against you. You (Shahbaz) and your party have become a hurdle against others and Lahore will witness a bloodbath.”
In response, the CM said that there was no doubt that extremism and militancy were the result of Musharraf’s policies. He said he had also stated that if the contention that his government was against dominance and dictation of others was true, and if the Taliban were also against it then they would not have attacked Punjab.
“As far as criticism of the use of the word Punjab is concerned, it is clear that when a question was raised regarding blasts at a particular place, the reply had to be in the same context. The speaker had expressed his views on terrorism in Punjab and bomb blasts in Lahore. Therefore, I also referred to Punjab in my speech, which some people tried to use to their own advantage. It is a matter of record that I have always talked about Pakistan and have stated on numerous occasions that the proud people of NWFP were fighting for the survival of Pakistan,” Shahbaz said.
The CM said he would like to ask those criticising the Punjab government with regards to terrorism that, “If it were true that the administration of the province was not dealing with militancy with an iron hand, then why were terrorists targeting Punjab and its capital so frequently?”
Shahbaz said the Pakistan Army was fighting for the survival of the country and it was necessary for all political parties and politicians to rise above factional and parochial interests to root out terrorism. “Similarly, there is a need for closer contacts between intelligence agencies of the provinces and the centre,” he said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk