ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has criticised former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi over his remarks, saying that even Pakistan’s enemies would not make statements of this nature
Addressing the PML-N preliminary committee meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said the statements made by the former chief minister were unacceptable. He said the government had to take difficult decisions regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after consultations and the failure of dialogue.
“Who does not know what happened at D-Chowk last year?” the prime minister asked, referring to past protests. He said protesters had washed dirty clothes and dug graves at D-Chowk in 2013 and 2014, adding that their sit-ins had led to the postponement of the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif said that instead of standing with the government and the armed forces against terrorism, political opponents had continued allegations and protests.
He alleged that the provincial government had focused on long marches rather than development, leaving the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa waiting for development projects for 13 years.
The prime minister said preparations had been made for a sit-in involving weapons and questioned whether any country could tolerate such a situation.
Failed negotiations
Shehbaz Sharif said the government had made efforts to reach an agreement through dialogue, with representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz participating in the negotiations.
He said the talks had reached a stage where an agreement appeared certain and all conditions had been settled. However, he added, changes were made to the draft at the last moment.
According to the prime minister, the parties had agreed on a joint draft before the negotiators sought time to brief the KP chief minister. He said the situation changed after they went to inform the chief minister, and the negotiations subsequently collapsed.
Shehbaz Sharif alleged that the opposing side had been directed to repeat the events of May 9 and go even further. He said another attempt was made to resolve the matter, including two meetings with JUI-F chief Fazal ur Rehman, one at night and another at dawn.
The prime minister said a federal cabinet meeting continued for two and a half hours, after which the government decided that it had to act to protect the public.
“We had no option but to take this decision. There was no option other than emergency,” he said, adding that nothing was more important than Pakistan.
Terrorism and KP development
Shehbaz Sharif said the government’s priority was to eliminate terrorism and restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He alleged that the provincial government had not fully cooperated in the fight against terrorism.
He said the people of the province had waited for development and peace for 13 years and deserved better public services and security.
The prime minister also said terrorists were demanding the separation of Balochistan and questioned how negotiations could be held with those who spoke against Pakistan’s integrity.
He claimed that Saudi Arabia, China, Turkiye and Qatar had also tried to persuade the Afghan government, but their efforts had not succeeded.
Shehbaz Sharif said the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and elements referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij were involved in terrorism. He also linked extortion, non-custom-paid vehicles and drug trafficking to criminal activity that was allowing terrorism to grow.
Advisory Council for KP
The prime minister said experts had been included in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council to work on the province’s issues.
He expressed hope that the council members would deliver results and said the people of KP would see development projects and improvements in law and order.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government would work with commitment to serve the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and bring peace and development to the province.
He added that the decisions concerning KP had been taken after consultations and out of necessity, insisting that the government could not remain a silent spectator while the situation deteriorated.
The prime minister also recalled his meeting with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who described Pakistan as a “new Pakistan” and praised the reforms introduced by the country. Shehbaz Sharif said he had credited the progress to teamwork.