Holding dialogues on national issues is the most important need of the hour: PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that dialogue is the key to resolve prevailing political issues. He said that holding dialogues on the national issues is the most important need of the hour. PM Shehbaz said that we have surpassed the difficult circumstances, adding that he has realization of the worries of the masses. PM Shehbaz Sharif said we will end the politics of unrest and hatred.
Addressing Mufti Mahmood Conference in Islamabad on Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif urged to promote politeness in politics instead of polarization. Ameer Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and chief of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman organized the conference here in memory of his father and former chief minister of North West Frontier Province Mufti Mahmood.
He said Mufti Mahmood was a great researcher and a leader who lived a simple and exemplary life. He said promotion of education was the aim of his life which he accomplished successfully.
The Prime Minister said Mufti Mahmood in his political career always believed in dialogue to resolve issues and set guiding principles for others. However, he regretted that politics has changed from politeness to polarization.
Shehbaz Sharif said last government’s imprudent policies pushed the country to economic instability but the incumbent government has taken tough decisions to save the country from bankruptcy.
He said that Imran Khan was used to say he enjoyed full authority and enjoyed the support of General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Pakistan Army and now he is saying he was not allowed to make decisions, adding that if this was the situation then what he was doing for four years, adding that he has not seen such a liar in his life.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek I Insaf (PTI) responsible for the economic difficulties of the common man and expressed determination to take Pakistan out of economic hardship. He said the previous government violated the agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF), creating difficult economic situation for his incoming government.
The prime minister said when his coalition partners gave him the responsibility to lead the country as prime minister, Pakistan’s economy was in dire straits and the country was on the verge of default.
Referring to Imran Khan, he said a person wanted Pakistan to default and become another Sri Lanka. He said under the guidance of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the coalition government went through a difficult time, however, it succeeded in taking steps for the progress of Pakistan. “If our intentions are good, we fear Allah, then Allah removes all difficulties and opens new paths.” He said he never wanted to put the burden of inflation on the people.
After the arrival of new Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the government managed to reduce the petrol prices, he observed. He said the government with the support of the coalition partners would consider further reduction in petrol prices. “Pakistan did not become independent to remain poor but to become prosperous and emerge as a dignified country,” he remarked. He paid tribute to Mufti Mahmood saying he was an eminent religious scholar, researcher, and political leader. “I have great admiration for religious scholars.”
Mufti Mahmood was a teacher and taught thousands of students at his madressah in Multan and rendered great services for the cause of Islam, he reminisced. He said Mufti Mahmood led a simple life and when he became chief minister of a coalition government of the present Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province he continued to engage his political contemporaries as he believed in dialogue.
Mufti Mahmood was in politics during the eras of Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and never closed the door to talks with his political peers and promoted dialogue.
Mufti Mahmood had a guiding principle that despite all differences, dialogue was an essential part of politics, he reminded. Throughout his life, the PM said Mufti Mahmood was the embodiment of simplicity, sincerity and honesty. He urged people to follow the teachings of Mufti Mahmood so that Pakistan could make progress and move ahead. He said it was unfortunate that in the politics of today abuse of opponents had become rampant.
Shehbaz Sharif said that society was poisoned and divided and a group was created to humiliate others and destroy the values of society. He said he was sure that the educated cadres of Jamiat Ulema Islam would stop the trend of abuse in politics.
The prime minister said he did not come across a bigger liar than Imran Khan. “He is telling lies day and night and is constantly hatching conspiracies against the nation and institutions,” he said about Imran Khan.
In the past, Imran Khan always said that his government and the institutions were on the same page and he was acting independently but now he was telling that he ruled as a powerless person, he told.
Talking about his achievements as chief minister of Punjab, Shehbaz said as a servant of the people of Punjab he provided free medicines, delivered free textbooks and free laptops to students and extended financial assistance to orphans and widows. “I arranged for urban transport and established a liver hospital where people received free of cost medical treatment.”
The conference was also addressed by Maualana Fazlur Rehman, PPP leader Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Awami National Party leader Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and other leaders.