Spitting fire: Threats to suspend power akin to treason, CM says
Shahbaz slams PTI’s attempt to ‘exploit provincial fault lines’.
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s warning that they would suspend power supply from Tarbela Dam to the Punjab was a threat to nationhood, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday. “If one of my cabinet ministers had threatened such a thing, I would have shut him up.”
The chief minister was addressing a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers. He said the country needed unity and harmony between provinces, not talk of dissension. “Those promoting parochial differences between the provinces are doing no service to Pakistan.”
Sharif said talk of suspending supply of electricity to the Punjab from Tarbela was detrimental to national interest and those threatening it were simply trying to create rifts between provinces. He said considering the present security and political scenario, such statements were most inappropriate.
“Our founding fathers sacrificed a lot for this country,” Sharif said. “Imran Khan’s call for civil disobedience has exposed his nefarious designs to bring this country’s economy to ruin.”
“I have been pointing this out from the day the march began – this is an attempt to damage the national economy and hurt PML-N’s development projects,” the chief minister said.
“Only enemies of Pakistan would rejoice over Khan’s call for civil disobedience,” Sharif said. This was not Khan’s “greatest pronouncement”, it was his biggest U-turn yet, he said.
The people of Pakistan have rejected this call for civil disobedience. “The call for civil disobedience and the Azadi March will meet a similar end,” the chief minister said.
“Deadlocks in politics are only overcome through dialogue...not ultimatums,” Sharif said.
Sanaullah lashes out
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Chaudhry brothers have no future in national politics former law minister Rana Sanaullah said on Monday.
He said Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s Tahirul Qadri had wised up to Pervaiz Elahi’s true intentions which was why he [Qadri] did not offer Elahi a ride on his truck and made him stand in Islamabad with his portrait. He said Qadri was aware of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s history.
Sanaullah said Pervaiz Elahi had jumped the bandwagon dreaming glorious dreams of political grandeur, but after facing Qadri’s biting rejection had once again become disappointed.
He said that the Chaudhry brothers had failed as astute politicians and their future in national politics appeared bleak. “However they will always remain on call for those seeking power through backdoor channels.”
The former law minister said this was why Elahi was playing a spokesperson for Qadri these days.
Sanaullah said he was hopeful that democracy would prevail.
“Asking the prime minister to resign is not justified. Elahi’s dream to come to power will never materialise.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s warning that they would suspend power supply from Tarbela Dam to the Punjab was a threat to nationhood, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday. “If one of my cabinet ministers had threatened such a thing, I would have shut him up.”
The chief minister was addressing a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers. He said the country needed unity and harmony between provinces, not talk of dissension. “Those promoting parochial differences between the provinces are doing no service to Pakistan.”
Sharif said talk of suspending supply of electricity to the Punjab from Tarbela was detrimental to national interest and those threatening it were simply trying to create rifts between provinces. He said considering the present security and political scenario, such statements were most inappropriate.
“Our founding fathers sacrificed a lot for this country,” Sharif said. “Imran Khan’s call for civil disobedience has exposed his nefarious designs to bring this country’s economy to ruin.”
“I have been pointing this out from the day the march began – this is an attempt to damage the national economy and hurt PML-N’s development projects,” the chief minister said.
“Only enemies of Pakistan would rejoice over Khan’s call for civil disobedience,” Sharif said. This was not Khan’s “greatest pronouncement”, it was his biggest U-turn yet, he said.
The people of Pakistan have rejected this call for civil disobedience. “The call for civil disobedience and the Azadi March will meet a similar end,” the chief minister said.
“Deadlocks in politics are only overcome through dialogue...not ultimatums,” Sharif said.
Sanaullah lashes out
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Chaudhry brothers have no future in national politics former law minister Rana Sanaullah said on Monday.
He said Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s Tahirul Qadri had wised up to Pervaiz Elahi’s true intentions which was why he [Qadri] did not offer Elahi a ride on his truck and made him stand in Islamabad with his portrait. He said Qadri was aware of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s history.
Sanaullah said Pervaiz Elahi had jumped the bandwagon dreaming glorious dreams of political grandeur, but after facing Qadri’s biting rejection had once again become disappointed.
He said that the Chaudhry brothers had failed as astute politicians and their future in national politics appeared bleak. “However they will always remain on call for those seeking power through backdoor channels.”
The former law minister said this was why Elahi was playing a spokesperson for Qadri these days.
Sanaullah said he was hopeful that democracy would prevail.
“Asking the prime minister to resign is not justified. Elahi’s dream to come to power will never materialise.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2014.