Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for skipping an apex committee meeting held to discuss recent upsurge in terrorist incidents across country.

"After Peshawar incident, I invited all political stakeholders but PTI did not consider it appropriate to participate in huddle and they are still trying to resolve matters on streets," he said. Addressing huddle where top civil and military leadership attended meeting PM minister not taking name of any political party was referring to PTI which kicked off 'court arrests' movement earlier this week against coalition government.

"For sake of prosperity, we must sit down and resolve matter amicably but unfortunately one segment is still trying to sabotage matters, which is condemnable," he added. "If we want to make Pakistan an economic tiger then we must rise above personal likes and dislikes," he added. PM Shehbaz said his government's coalition partners put their political capital at stake for sake of state.

“There is an allied country of Pakistan, we were all thinking that they were waiting for IMF agreement and then they would play their part but that allied nation few days ago conveyed to us that ‘We are giving you [this financial help] straight away’ and these things can never be forgotten. “There are many such sincere contributions of theirs in past for Pakistan,” he said while addressing apex committee meeting.  National Apex Committee at meeting sought national consensus to root out militancy as Pakistan faces fresh wave of terrorism. He told participants that after terrorist attack in Peshawar on February 3, civil and military authorities had held seven-hour long session and took several decisions. He said during an attack on Karachi police office last week, personnel of Sindh police, Rangers and Pakistan Army bravely fought terrorists.

He prayed for high ranks in paradise for soldiers martyred during operation. He said after terrorist attack on Army Public School of Peshawar, national leadership had formulated National Action Plan (NAP). He said Pakistan currently faced eco omic challenges and expressed hope that situation would improve after matters with International Monetary Fund were finalised in near future.

He maintained that though government was compelled to accept strict IMF conditions, state of Pakistan was above all. Even government's coalition parties also put their political interests at stake for sake of country and to improve economic situation. He said that cooperation by friendly countries was no less than Allah's blessing, but foremost priority should be to put our own house in order otherwise no one would come up to help. "Pakistan is facing economic challenges we will soon reach an agreement with IMF but we were compelled to accept tough conditions," he said. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 25 2023

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