KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that ‘disrespect of martyrs and ghazis’ and attack on military installations on May 9 was intolerable, reiterating his firm resolve to bring all perpetrators to face law.

Addressing groundbreaking ceremony of K-IV water supply project, he said that no one should object if government of Pakistan punished arsonists of May 9 as per law, way United States had done to its citizens for storming Capitol building on January 6, 2021.

“Today, in city of Quaid, we all are ashamed for what happened on May 9 in Lahore. Justice requires to punish perpetrators like rioters of Capitol building on January 6, 2021. If that punishment was legal, then no one should object if we do so under our law for desecration of our martyrs,” he said.

PM Shehbaz said strings of May 9 conspiracy were attached to abroad and that desecration of martyrs and installations on instigation of Imran Niazi was darkest chapter in nation’s history.

Recalling his recent interaction with family members of martyrs, he said their dear ones had rendered sacrifices for country but arsonists desecrated their monuments. He said person who always blamed others for plunders had resorted to arsons when arrested on charges of corruption. “What kind of politics is this,” he questioned and said no political leader in past ever instigated an attack on Jinnah House or military installations, despite having faced many difficulties.

He said leaders of MQM and PPP both representing Sindh gave message of national unity which was must for national development. He said coalition government coped with huge challenges through collective wisdom, including floods, inflation, International Monetary Fund and also nefarious designs of chaotic politics which culminated on darkest day of May 9.Committing to revive Pakistan’s lost grandeur, he lamented unnecessary delay in K-IV project that was meant to provide drinking water to millions of Karachi people. He asked relevant ministries to provide uninterrupted funding to ensure project’s completion without further delay. He said project was “Most important” for him because people of city were deprived of drinking water, despite it being city with highest revenue generation and taxation. PM assured that he would put project at top priority in upcoming budget and provide maximum funds for its early completion. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said that under leadership of PM Shehbaz and FM Bilawal, project was moving ahead. He said that for first time, federal and provincial governments were on same page to execute much-delayed project.

WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (retd) said K-IV water project would supply 650 million gallons of water to Karachi. He said that first phase would provide 260 million gallons and 390 million gallons to be supplied in second phase.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 27 2023

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