Shehbaz lambasts govt for 'failure to take criticism'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the government had turned the difference of opinion into personal enmity.

"Unfortunately, the incumbent government has turned democratic protest, the difference of opinion and criticism into a personal enmity," Shehbaz said in a statement released today.

The PML-N leader also strongly condemned baton-charge on the opposition members of the Balochistan Assembly. He went on to add that, "the tactics of chaos and suppression are non-democratic, non-parliamentary and non-political".

The PML-N chief observed that the non-democratic attitude was seen first in the National Assembly, and the same is now being witnessed in the provincial assembly.

"The violence on opposition lawmakers in Balochistan Assembly and barring them from participating in the session [of the House] is the epitome of fascism."

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He advised the government to listen to the lawmakers, adding that the former's action did not provide a solution to the issue.

"The government should accept the lawful demands and address grievances [of the lawmakers]," the senior politician maintained.

He also advised both sides to "show patience and sagaciousness [to deal with the matter]".

On Thursday, a sit-in staged by the members of the United Opposition in front of the Balochistan Assembly against the “disregard for opposition constituencies and release of funds to unelected persons” entered its third day.

Addressing a press conference at the protest camp set up outside the assembly by the opposition parties, Opposition Leader in Balochistan Assembly Malik Sikandar Khan said that the “anti-people budget will not be accepted under any circumstances”.

He alleged that the government distributed funds through “unelected representatives in opposition constituencies”.

"We will besiege the assembly and will not allow any government member to enter the house. The people of Balochistan and the transporters have paid their dues against the attitude of the government,” Sikandar Khan said while asserting his position.