Govt criticism: 'Pakistan has nuclear weapons but is still a beggar state'
He made this statement while addressing traders at the Mall Road in Lahore.
Shahbaz said the October 28 rally at Nasir Bagh is a "war to save the country" and should not be taken as an act for any political gain. He also said that he will make important announcements during the rally, which he descried as a protest against the increase in power tariff, load shedding and corruption.
(Read more: Shahbaz, not Nawaz to roar on October 28)
Criticising the government, he said embezzlement of millions of rupees was made in the name of rental power plant projects.
Shahbaz said that it was "high time" to act against injustice and said that he will not back out even if he has to sacrifice his life.
The PML-N is scheduled to take out a rally on October 28, led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
PML-N, in a meeting held on October 20, decided that “Shahbaz Sharif was capable of countering Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan’s propaganda against the Sharif brothers”.
The PTI is also scheduled to hold a rally in Lahore in the coming days.
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We're a 'beggar state' precisely because we have nukes rather than primary education... F-16s rather than functioning health care..the list could go on forever..... The security of a state is inherently correlated to its economic prowess. Wake up Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
@Ahmer Ali Yes, Allah blessed Pakistan with nuclear bums, gas and natural resources. But he also cursed Pakistan with its recidivist attitude towards Islam. He also cursed Paksitan with, well Pakistanis who don't get the meaning and role of religion. With people who think it's ok to kill in the name of Allah, with people who can't tolerate different views, can't tolerate people who pray to a different god or even to the same god in a different way or a different mosque.
Leaders of countries are just a reflection of its people -- remember people choose their leaders.
@Pakistani:
To be honest, we Indian's don't want an Albatrose called Pakistan wrapped around our necks. We just want you to go and build your own country and don't bother us by sending across people to kill Indians. Other than that, we have no interest in you whatsoever
You want to trade and do business we can talk about that, you want sports, we can talk about that, you want to talk about your favorite subject Kashmir, we can do that too but. India invading Pakistan, no a chance, India wanting to occupy Pakistan or any other country, we are not interested and we did not do it when we had the chance as Bangladesh. India wanting to teach Pakistan a lesson and shame it, we don't have the desire and we didn't do it when 90,000 Pakistani soldiers sreendered.
No, we do not want the albatrose around our necks, Pakistan will set us back 40 years or so. We are happy with progress we are making in economy and poverty alleviation, and we have long wat to go, why would we want to start all over again? Nope, wo don't.
@rehmat:
"Militarily, Pakistan already is the undisputed leader. It does not need more nukes to earn that status."
They want to turn Pakistan as the center of the Islamic universe. They want the rest of the ummah to declare Pakistan as their leader. That is the difference.
"The reality is that in today’s world, economic might is at least as important if not more important than military might. By that token bulding more nukes will REDUCE – not incease the chances of Pakistan’s leadership of ummah."
Read the links I provided in my previous post. Pakistani Establishment has no illusions or desire to become an economic power. They think the oil wealth of the Arab states is their own. They think Saudi Arabia/gulf states will be the money/economic machine for them. The links above clearly shows that there is already a pay-for-nuke deal with Saudi Arabia with Pakistan in place having already sold a few complete nukes to them. So, money will roll in.
So there is no need to worry about Pakistan's economic development or the poor people of Pakistan. After all aren't the Poor people of Pakistan expected to sacrifice for the greater "good" of the Ummah in making Pakistan as the center of the second coming of the great Ottoman empire? Every Pak general views himself as the reincarnation of the great Salahuddin just as Saddam Hussein fancied himself
@Rationalist: "Pakistani establishment will not stop at 100 or 200 nukes. Their goals are much bigger. They want to be the undisputed and most powerful “leaders” of the Islamic ummah."
It depends on definition of leadership. Militarily, Pakistan already is the undisputed leader. It does not need more nukes to earn that status. owever the investment in defense is it keeping it economically backward. The reality is that in today's world, economic might is at least as important if not more important than military might. By that token bulding more nukes will REDUCE - not incease the chances of Pakistan's leadership of ummah.
That was late Prime Minister Z. A. Bhutto wished for- "Pakistan will have nuclear bomb even if we will eat grass". A wish is fulfilled.
@Mirza:
Pakistani establishment will not stop at 100 or 200 nukes. Their goals are much bigger. They want to be the undisputed and most powerful "leaders" of the Islamic ummah. They want to recreate the Islamic "golden" period and plant the flag of Islam in the Red Fort in New Delhi. Also, they already have an agreement to share nukes with Saudi Arabia and this agreement is being implemented as we speak. See http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/saudi/index.html and this: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/3_51.htm
@Pakistani: I beg to differ on some parts of your statement..From economic and development perspective, it's India and China that's being benchmarked together..So don't hypenate India and Pak together (perhaps it could be true 30 years ago)..
Let me make another thing clear..The reason that India did go nuclear was DUE TO CHINA becoz we clearly enjoyed conventional military superiority over Pak..Most of younger generation in India obsessed about China-India-US equation and not very much inclined towards Pakistan except ofcourse on certain issues.
Ofcourse you are right in the sense that India will never invade Pakistan since we don't want to squander our chance to compete with China in the world stage, both strategically and economically.
China knows that, hence they prop up Pakistan (don't think they interested in properous Pakistan who could be their competitor in the muslim world)..
At the end of the day, India and Pakistan should cooperate each other so we should keep China at arms length in S.Asia..This is the primary reason why India has started to reach out its neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar etc..Even its interest in Afghanistan has China in its core strategy.
Nuclear weapons were built to secure Pakistan. Now the biggest concern is how to keep these weapons secure.
@rehmat: Sir, I totally agree with you. We do not need more than 100 nuclear warheads for deterrent. In addition, the only logic for getting nuclear capability was that India is a huge country and we cannot defend ourselves with traditional army only. Now we have the balancing act and we still have a bigger and more equipped army. I agree that we cannot do both, be a nuclear power and a beggar. We have to decide what we want to be. Perhaps I was not clear before! Thanks and regards, Mirza
Pakistani Mullahs are obsessed with the "islamic bomb" , Pakistani Military are obsessed with strategic depth and Pakistani politicians are obsessed with kick backs from international arms deals. This was not Mr Jinnah's vision for pakistan
corrupt leaders instated by the CORRUPT mass population...YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW....TIME TO REJOIN INDIA I THINK!!! Or BECOME 52 STATE OF AMERICA!! EITHER WAY WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION THAT WE ARE IN KNOW!!!
@Mirza: "It is ironic that Sharifs were the leaders when Pakistan exploded the nuclear devices. Now all of a sudden they are being nationalist leaders?"
I generaly agree with your thought process. I would like to offer a slight difference in opinion.interpretation with regards to this particular post that you made. Having nuclear capability is one thing. India does too and so this might have been a necessity. What SS is questioning - an it is a legitimate question is : does it make sense to keep on building more and more nukes. Once you have even 10 nukes, it is clear that India cannot initiate nuclear war. Do you need 120 nukes?
India stopped building fresh nukes once it was clear that they haveminimum deterrence. Pakistan continues to build them. I guess that is the issue.
Some commentators are trying to criticize on our making of nukes.They are trying to pose as "GAUTUM BODH". Making of atom bomb was not an unwise decision, when you have fought with your neighbor many times and one neighbor always bite you at back,It is wise in that perspective.God forbid when time comes will you throw, kinno, and apple to the enemies to save your country.When our prophet (saw) left this world, nothing was at home,but 9 swords were hanging from the wall.Why? because if you will not fight equally,you will be in danger, and with that your religion too..
Authoritative persons(our leaders) said
we shall eat grass but develop atomic technology. Tell me who is eating grass; those authorities or public?North Korea is a nuclear state but is unable to feed its people. South Korea has no bomb but a strong economy which has transformed it into a grat nation. Germany the strongest economy and a technological might can develop the bomb but keeps away, it has properity wothout the bomb. USSR had the biggest stockpile but still disintegrated. India and Pakistan proud nuclear nations with hunger, lack of medical facilities and underdeveloped. Economy and health bring prosperity as in todays war those who go to war are doomed to disaster. America in Afghanistan. Had we spent on health and education and had developed a stong economy we would have been more secure. Indai can never invade Pakistan as she knows that it is something they cannot sustain. its better we reduce military spending and raise Pakistan 2 greatness.
We have developed atom bomb technology, Missile technology, Tanks technology and even war planes technology but we are unable to produce a car
s mechanical parts (what to say of its engine), Hospital equipment, computer components, Motor cycle engine, Pumps and can also not manufacture a generator and a tractors engine and so many other simple things for ordinary men`s use. What a contradiction?It is people like Sharif brothers etc who have made this country a beggar State.You cant feed bombs to the people.
Isn't so called called "present govt" from PML-N.
Can make nukes but cannot make railway engines nor pay salaries of railway employees. That sums it up.
It is ironic that Sharifs were the leaders when Pakistan exploded the nuclear devices. Now all of a sudden they are being nationalist leaders? We have made choices which are hundreds of nuclear weapons beside huge military industrial complex, Talibans, terrorisim, madarsas, hating everything that is modern and progressive, and ignored all the work for the welfare of poor civilians. Pakistan being a poor country could not afford all the expensive luxuries and war toys, but we made that decision. We boast to be a nuclear power and among top 10 countries of the world but never stop begging on one pretext or the other. It is not a rocket science to decide where Pakistan's budget is going to be spent?
Interesting. One brother take credit of Pakistani nuclear bomb and another links it with Pakistan becoming a beggar state. Nuclear bombs were supposed to bring peace in the region. However, peace is light years away. One wise man said that rain brings prosperity to some and destruction to others.
You spent enormous sums of money to make you safer and give you prestige - you got neither. To make matters worse your still wasting money on building these expensive/useless devices.
Making Atom bombs, Missiles, Motorways, Luxury Airports, Luxury palaces, Foreign tours, Splendid Embassies and huge staff there even where not needed and splendid city IslamAbad have all made us a bankrupt country.
Its precisely because Pakistan is a military state that its a begger state.
I still dont understand that why do we pakistanis equate certain things
for example
nukes=assets army=saviour politicians=villians democracy=western imposed system secularism= athiesm
please somebody tell me? please
Mr SS should deal with corruption in the province he heads before lecturing others about it.
He's right!
Well, the nukes have nothing to do with it.
Look at North Korea. It has nukes and missiles too but is still considered to be a failed state and its people are suffering. South Korea has none of those but still thriving.
Why is that?
Nukes and a big economy go together. If you are not even worthy of being included in the G20, nukes have a negative effect. The World will begin to fear your nukes, rather than respect it. Forget the costs of maintaining a nuke reserve and the associated delivery systems.
Simply put: BIg toys belong to big boys.
@Ahmer Ali:
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.
"Allah Almighty has bestowed upon Pakistan His greatest and endless blessings in the forms of minerals,oil and gas"
Oh really! How wonderful.. How wonderful that you blame a bunch of toothless Civilians who have not been allowed to even rule half the time since the past 65 years, instead of blaming the Army which HAS ruled Pakistan for more than half its existence.
It is not because of the leaders but people like you who bury their heads in the sand instead of confronting real issues.
By the way, Pakistan is running out of gas reserves if you would like to know.
we would not have been a beggar state had we spent our limited resources on human resource and infrastructure development instead of army and nukes. this is what happens to little kids wanting to play in the big league...they get badly hurt.
We are Nuclear Power so we paid for that now we beg for that.
The military is still busy in manufacturing more nukes which as per estimate of US in 2010 touched the figure of 120. More nukes would not make Pakistan secure or peaceful but more vunerable to terrorists threat as well as a big drain on country's meagre resources.
These clowns are so funny. Depending on occasion they would go endless in there claims as if the brothers made the Aetom bomb in there backyard. When in front of traders , they would change the stance completely. Can he shed some light on foreign aid received during there own era ? Or otherwise are they able to give surplus budgest in Punjab ?
We should do a politics of resolution, there is a difference between reality and rowdy rhetoric. All the stake holder should sit togather, should make the stratgic changes to address the hard challanges.
Now the problem is, this party just talks about Pakistan in perspective of Punjab. Their representatives from other provinces, people hardly know.
such comments reminds me of Musical Chair that i used to play with some of my friends at my school age :)
@faraz Don't worry, we shall eat nuclear weapons for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Real sorry state of affairs...
My response to Shahbaz Sharif, we have nuclear weapons therefore we are in this bad state!
Because nuclear weapons arent goods that can be exported, although we tried that too