Pakistan among failed states: Nawaz

Accuses the govt of pursuing Musharraf-era policies.

LAHORE: The world is rating Pakistan among failed states and repeated military interventions have forced Baloch nationalists to seek foreign support against the country, which is an alarming situation, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

He was addressing a gathering after the balloting for yellow cabs in the city.

Nawaz Sharif said that the government was proceeding on policies devised by a dictator regime (the Musharraf government), adding that it was the outcome of those policies which had put the country on the world map as a failed state.

Criticising the government for the country’s growing isolation on the international level, he said that issues such as corruption, extremism, terrorism, low rate of growth of economy, stoppage of development work and unemployment were still unresolved, creating a multi-dimensional crisis in the country.

Stressing the need for adopting a culture of accountability, he said that it was necessary to rise above personal interests and work for the promotion of national interest.

Giving the example of the PML-N, he said that his party was far more responsible in this regard as it had sacked two of its legislators on corruption charges.

Accusing President Asif Ali Zardari of promoting his “own and party’s interests”, he said that instead of setting a good precedent, President Zardari’s action had pushed the country “on the brink of destruction”.

“We should save the country from Zardari’s corruption, ” he said.

Highlighting the contribution of Baloch nationalist leaders such as Attaullah Mengal and Mir Hasil Bizenjo in abolishing the 8th Amendment, he said that they had played a very active role along with him and Benazir Bhutto in this regard, adding that Balcoh nationalists should more often be allowed to play a constructive role for the sake of the country.

Criticising the government, he said that instead of assimilating Baloch nationalists into the national political mainstream, the rulers had pushed “sons of Baloch nationalists to seek asylum in foreign countries and…work against the country”.

There “is chaos in three provinces”, he said, “but the federal government is engaged in hatching conspiracies against Punjab”, trying to destabilise the provincial government and devising way to divide the province. Rejecting criticism over his party’s role as being a “friendly opposition”, he said he and his party “played the role of a genuine opposition by launching anti-government agitation such as the long march”.

Zardari, he said, had tried to disqualify him and his brother through courts and even imposed governor rule in Punjab and even now “he and his party are engaged in efforts to weaken the Punjab province”. He warned Zardari to refrain from “all malicious activities”.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2011.