PTI leadership responsible for losing govt: Sharjeel

KARACHI:

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of losing its government due to its soft stance towards militants.

"While innocent people continued to lose their lives and young men embraced martyrdom, the PTI founder kept talking about allowing terrorist groups to reopen their offices," he said in a statement.

Sharjeel said the PTI had no one but itself to blame for the political crisis facing its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Instead of serving and protecting the people, he alleged, the party had held the province hostage to its politics of confrontation and was now facing the consequences of its own decisions.

He said the PPP believed in democracy and strengthening democratic institutions and had never pursued politics merely to gain power.

Referring to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sharjeel expressed disappointment over what he described as the veteran politician's discouraging statements. He noted that Fazlur Rehman had personally faced the horrors of terrorism and that his party had also suffered losses at the hands of militants.

He expressed hope that Fazlur Rehman would adopt an unequivocal stance against terrorism and stand in solidarity with the families of security personnel killed in the line of duty and innocent victims of terrorist violence.

Sharjeel described the brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan's armed forces as a source of pride for the entire nation. He said they remained vigilant to protect the lives, security and future of children, young people and elderly citizens, continuing to sacrifice their lives in the fight against terrorism.

Sharjeel stressed that political interests must never be placed above national security.