Express News screengrab of Prime MInister Nawaz Sharif.
"I don’t think people who slaughter others deserve any sympathy," the premier said, while addressing Pakistanis in Bahrain during his two-day visit to the oil-rich country.
"This is the first time such steps have been taken in Pakistan," Nawaz added.
"Terrorists roamed about freely," he said, in reference to the long gap between his current and past tenures. "Such people should be dealt with."
Speaking about the devastating attack in Peshawar -- in which 150 people were killed, including school children -- Nawaz said the 21st Constitutional Amendment had been signed to ensure that such an incident never takes place again.
He said he was thankful to those who voted in favour of the amendment, and was also thankful to those who abstained as they were at least present in Parliament.
"Pakistan is a country now where mothers are afraid to even send their children to school, a country where families are afraid their relatives may not make it back home," the prime minister said.
In regard to the establishment of military courts, Nawaz said the militants will be tried and if found guilty, they would be hanged in 10-15 days.
"Terrorism has been prevalent in Pakistan for several years," he said.
"The government has tried to conduct dialogue with the militants, but to no avail."
He said the attack on the airport in Karachi was an "eye-opener".
"After that day, we decided that we would not continue with the dialogue process. Shortly after that, we launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb which has been very effective," the prime minister said.
Adding on to the launch of the operation, Nawaz said two horrible incidents had taken place in the aftermath; one was the attack on the Wagah Border and the other one was the attack on the school in Peshawar.
"Several militants were killed as a result of the operation, and some escaped to Afghanistan."
Nawaz also highlighted the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reiterated their commitment to fight terror. He also said he was hopeful of the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan improving, as well as improvements of issues on western borders.
Disappointment with India
On the LoC and Working Boundary violations by India, Nawaz said his government made sincere efforts to improve relations with the new government in India, but the efforts were not reciprocated, according to Radio Pakistan.
He spoke about his attempts to improve bilateral relations, "When I was invited to visit India for their new prime minister's oath-taking ceremony, I made the decision to go without hesitation, whereas they cancelled a scheduled meeting with Pakistan just three days before it was bound to take place."
He said India cancelled the foreign secretary level talks on the pretext of the Pakistani High Commissioner's meeting with the Kashmir leadership, which has been a practice for 60 years.
COMMENTS (29)
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@Sexton Blake: Well, you can’t blame nawaz’s stupidity for all the ills facing Pakistan. No doubt other factors such as greed, corruption, self interest, etc by all ruling politicians, Generals, and puppets etc are to blame. I cannot recall a single leader who I can listen to and think…Yes, this person is sincere with Pakistan.
Even Nawaz, recently when he went to India, took his son and there were reports of him meeting an India steel businessman. Now was that for Pakistan’s sake or his own business’s sake? Its funny that some PMLN fans say the rot started 15 years ago, which completely ignoring the terrible record of Nawaz in his previous tenures. The number of motorways built in km is not the only measure of success!
I agree with you point about our rulers being puppets for the west. Just look at the wikileaks showing Nawaz falling over his feet to please the americans. I also recommend “Way of the world” by Ron Suskind – which sheds a lot of light onto the whole Benazir-Zardari-Mush plans on NRO, backed of course by Uncle Sam.
@salman: Dear salman, I think you may well be correct in regard to the intelligence of Prime Minister Sharif, but why should he be different from most of the other world leaders? Apart from sheer unadulterated greed, stupidity and brutality, do you think lack of intelligence may well be the reason why the world, including Pakistan, is currently in such a mess at the political, economic and security levels? Of course, we have to ask who is selecting, and more importantly controlling these people. People lacking intelligence or power hungry and greedy money junkies. Then again, something else to consider is that anyone who disagrees with current Western regimes is usually labelled as a terrorist, and if he/she is a leader is either bombed, assassinated, deposed or sanctioned. Perhaps, by being a puppet of the West Prime Minister Sharif is taking the safest course, although I do not like the concept of military courts.
@Blithe: Bro. Of course, you have a right to object. As I have a right to my opinion. But I’m not unreasonable, I can be convinced to change my mind and apologize , if someone can show me that mian sahib is not dumb :)
Maybe like a link to an interview of his where is taking questions from the general public and answering them and making complete sense and sounding like a guy who knows what he is doing? Or how about a speech of his where he is not talking about motorways and bullet trains and actually talking about things that matter, like education, health and tax reforms?
Unfortunately, all I’ve seen so far of his interviews is him mumbling through answers, not sounding coherent and one point even asking the reporter if the camera is on or not, and asking him to “redo” the question! I mean how dumb do you have to be to not even realize you are being interviewed live! Especially when part of your job is talking to the public!
I didn’t want to get into this, but I have also met people who worked with Nawaz in his previous govt, and many have said that when they were presenting to him or discussing issues with him, they got the sense that he is not grasping concepts, and once he even stopped a meeting to ask what was for lunch. Seriously, no lie!
It is interesting to note the psychological nuances interacting between the various submissions. I personally, am not in the top IQ ratings, but I can read, absorb a little of what I read, and then attempt to make logical decisions without being unduly influenced by my feelings for a political party or personage. However, if one delves back into history as far back as the Roman Empire it is possible to read word for word almost the same nomenclature that we are currently reading in regard to Pakistan's loss of freedoms being planned by Mr Nawaz Sharif. Even closer, read up on Messrs Herbert Asquith and Lloyd George the British Prime ministers of WWI. I am not sure how conversations would have gone between Mr Asquith and his defense personnel one year into WWI, but I think the following would be a reasonable facsimile: "Winston we are losing 1,400 men a day, do you thing we could shorten the war". Winston's reply: "We cannot negotiate with those German monsters. No the war must go on". And so Britain lost 1,400 men per day for another 3 years. One could move a little close to current events, but that would mean having to list out the blind stupidity of Western interests and its influence over a servile Pakistan leadership which has allowed Pakistan to virtually destroy a justice system, which although not perfect, stood out in the world as being a reasonable model for a free society.
@Bewildered.. Good that you pointed out about the intended pun. No one would have gotten it otherwise (No pun intended).
I guess Pakistanis have short term memory when it comes to history. Anyway, the show goes on.
@H Chaudhry: Salam bro. Hope you are well. Both benazir and nawaz were removed from power twice. Now it just didn't happened that one day the president or some general woke up and said, lets get rid of them. There were actions (or inactions) by the PMs which led to their removals.
Nawaz for example...if he wanted to get rid of mush, he could have done it 10 different ways, but he chose the dumbest way to do it. That's why I think he's a bit dumb. Plus have you ever seen a live interview of him...he can hardly answer the questions sincsintly. I still remwmbwr the one with talat with ahsan iqbal feeding nawaz answers from off camera before talat put a stop to it. Hilarious that was.
Anyway, I agree that there won't be a coup by army, but there is a possibility that nawaz will mess up somewhere along the line ;)
And I'll never cry foul in pmln win without rigging. You know what they say, there's a first time for everything! :)
@Bewildered: You are the most delusional person here, go fly your ancient Sanskrit flying machine. Super power LOL ...yes if you count the amount of people in your country, otherwise its worst than a neglected toilet...or wait you guys don't even have that....
@salman: I object to you using ungentlemanly against the PM of Pakistan.
You must tender an unconditional apology.
@salman: Oh, so you found a typo (omission) in the article, and decided to throw a tantrum, and call the PM names??? Good going sir! And if we go by your argument that a PM who cannot complete his term is dumb, then the list would include many other exPM's. Simply put, the only people who are not dumb according to your criterion would be the likes of Musharraf, or his hand-picked PM, or other dictators!!!! If yes, then I rest my case, 'cuz no point trying to argue with someone who has an IQ of below 70!
Good jon Mr. PM. The nation sees tthe good you are doing. Keep it up.
God bless you. Keep up the good work PM
Not sure if he failed or Benazir failed or nation failed in not able to have any stability but tell you what, PMs not completing their tenures were not their failures but collective national failures and hence where we stand. Politicians are mature now and every military knows how important is stability. He will complete his term, things are looking bright compared to last 15 years of mismanagement. I am sure when PMLN win over 100 Punjab seats and few others, you will still be crying foul.
@Real Truth: @H Chaudhry:
My dear PMLN bros. If you read my post again, you may realize that there was actually a typo in the original article, which I pointed out in my post more then 6 hours ago. I even cut and pasted the para and put it in quotes, and mentioned in my post that it was "surely a mistake"
Since then ET have corrected the article.
Thanks for your concern, but my eyesight is fine and few brain cells I have are working fine.
Saying that, Mian sahib is a bit dumb. You got to be a bit dumb if you can't even finish your term as prime minister. He failed twice, and I'm not convinced that he won't fail this time as well :)
Military should have taken over the country long time back, thousands of innocents may not have lost their lives. Kayani inaction against terrorists proved to be the most costly blunder but politicians still praise him for not disturbing their citadel.
@salman PM is not any dumber than you! Arm chair commenters like yourself provide for good entertainment when they object to utter stupidity and fail to even comprehend most basic of sentence. Read again and try to work the few brain cells you have. Calling a PM, that alone who is third time PM and has done more in his life than you can even if given 10 lifetimes only make you look dumb.
Mr Prime Minister, any plans to reform the justice system? (police, prosecution, judiciary, legislature) I bet when the military courts expire after 2 years, these good-for-nothing politicians will just give them another extension, followed by another one ......
Great game between Sharif Vs Sharif.!!. All politicians what to negotiate with TTP because they do not what any blowback on their family and friends. Now all the blame is on COAS Shariff - Army school attack in Peshwar is an example. See we cannot blame NS or IK or Zardari either, as PA wants to play Good terrorist and Bad terrorist game. No body knows at any given day who is good terrorist or bad terrorist. Now as military courts are responsible for punishing terrorists. Civilians are completely washing their hands off.
@salman: No, PM is not dumb, with due respect, maybe you need to change your prescription glasses: Here is what is readable above to the naked eye, "Speaking about the devastating attack in Peshawar — in which 150 people were killed, including school children — Nawaz said the 21st Constitutional Amendment had been signed to ensure that such an incident never take place again." You obviously chose to NOT read the word "never" -- time to go back to elementary school :-)
Isn't it strange that so far the Prime Minister Sharif has not released any substantial evidence as to who was responsible for the Peshawar tragedy, but has devised a whole raft of security legislation to stop it from happening again? After the Kennedy assassination no real evidence was supplied, but the Americans found a patsy, who was murdered to take the blame. After 9/11 no evidence was supplied as to who did it but once again a whole raft of security legislation was introduced to prevent it happening again. Of course, the Islamic world got the blame, and we have to forget the dancing men in New York who were released. In Abbottobad a contingent of US marines illegally shot up a house, but no evidence was supplied that OBL was in the house. Also in the Ukraine MH17 was shot down. The EU have classified all information as to who was responsible, but have placed wide spread sanctions on Russia. More recently we find that ISIL. a mystically well trained and equipped organization is running rampant in Syria, which gives the US an excuse to illegally bomb Syria. I am still trying to work out why the US has gone into Iraq for the third time, and why along with Libya they bombed them into the stone-age on the second attempt. Additionally, it is my understanding the US has dropped a minimum of 5,000 bombs on Syria and Iraq in the last couple of months. I did not think there was very much left to bomb. It is almost impossible to understand the mischief our leaders are up to, but if the last 50 years are any example I would suggest that there will be little improvement in world security generally and Pakistan in particular. Additionally, I have a bad feeling that whoever creates problems in the Pakistan region the Western world, who are supposedly leaving, will not be blamed, and will be allowed to continually use their dreadful drones, which will keep infuriating the militants.
We sometimes ignore facts under the shadow of our likings and dislikings. I am not NS fan but he Pakistan was economically doing better than India when he was las PM. We had 24 hour electricity, gas, no terrorism and a GDP growth rate higher than any country in Asia.
Mr Prime Minister of Pakistan! Enough with your cacophony, Pakistan has had military courts before and this did not provide any benefits except sending you on exile. You are just not born to be a democrat and you are simply trying to prevent Judiciary to declare that fraud was in fact was usedin the elections.
Rex Minor
Dear PM please talk less do more. Are you noticing all the acquitals and last minute deals?
Long time ago there a problem and that was PMLN was saying this is not our war, rather the exact stand was foreign war has been imposed on us.
yes, you pm dont had and now even not have any plan to srengthen the civil judiciary
"Nawaz said his government made sincere efforts to improve relations with the new government in India"
India is a super power. She does not need your sincerity and 'Saris', but total submission. Don't you understand this simple thing (for the intelligent Indians, sarcasm fully intended).
The judicial system should have been fixed a long time ago, PIA should have been fixed a long time ago, universal education for all based on modern subjects should have been implemented long time ago, railways should have been fixed long time ago, CDA should have been fixed long time ago.....What has your government done to make the bureaucracy incorruptible like it was in the 60s and 70s. Lets not shed crocodile tears.
"Speaking about the devastating attack in Peshawar — in which 150 people were killed, including school children — Nawaz said the 21st Constitutional Amendment had been signed to ensure that such an incident take place again."
Surely some mistake? I know the PM is dumb, but even he can't be that dumb!
Yes , and you should have left politics long time ago too.