We won’t bow before foreigners: Shahbaz Sharif

[Naveed Yaseen]

PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that in order to make Pakistan a stronger and stable country, our elders, leaders and all sections of society have to decide that we will not bow before foreigners and move ahead like a respectable nation.

He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of two-day Nazria-e-Pakistan Conference under the aegis of Nazria-e-Pakistan Trust, here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that instead of relying on foreign aid we have to depend upon our own resources. He said that the country could be put on the road to progress and prosperity only in the presence of an independent judiciary that can provide justice to the poor people. Gen. Pervez Musharraf forcibly ruled the country for eight and a half years and his companions looted national exchequer ruthlessly, he added.

The Chief Minister said that Muslims of the subcontinent achieved a separate country under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, but the past governments during the last 60 years instead of making Pakistan a welfare oriented state in the real sense, damaged the country. He said that today corruption and dishonesty is on its rampant while the common man is facing serious economic difficulties.

He said that the gulf between the rich and the poor is widening and we should have to set up a society based on justice for its removal. He said that on the one hand there is a poor sect that is unable to educate its children but on the other hand is a sect of rich and its children are studying abroad.

He said that wrong policies of the former governments resulted in to power crisis in the country and our cities as well as villages are facing darkness, factories are closed and the condition of industrial sector is deplorable. He said that the present government is not responsible for this situation but its responsibility lies on the former government in the real sense that did not start any project for generation of electricity.

The Chief Minister said that had Musharraf worked for the construction of Bhasha Dam the country has not to face the crises of energy and 3000 MW of electricity could have been saved by the construction of this dam. He further said that had the coal reservoirs of Sindh and Punjab been utilized for the generation of electricity the country did not face the present situation.

He said that Musharraf made decisions contrary to national interests due to which it is facing lawlessness. He said that despite an atomic power we are compelled to rely on foreign aid. He said we should have to say goodbye to foreign aid and create our own resources.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that a few days ago parliament during its in camera session has passed a unanimous resolution which reflects the aspirations of the Pakistani nation in real sense. He said that in order to establish a lasting peace in the country process of dialogue should be continued. He said that the killers of the humanity and those who caused damage to the national solidarity should not be spared at all but dialogue should be made with those innocent people who have been deviated from the path.

He said that former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif made the country an atomic power after carrying out nuclear tests and had Pakistan not been an atomic power the whole nation have bowed down before enemy. He said that without independent judiciary, we couldn’t even think of development of the country and we should have to restore judiciary of November 2, 2007 for putting the country on the road to progress.

He said that deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has written a new history by facing a dictator bravely.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that government is implementing a comprehensive strategy for the welfare of the people of the province as well as raising their living standard.

He said that besides installation of generators in the hospitals for looking after the patients, various projects for generation of energy are also being started in the province.

He said that provision of Sasti Roti for Rs.2 to the poor has been ensured. He announced a piece of land adjacent to Nazria Pakistan Trust and funds to Nazria Pakistan Trust for the construction of a new hall.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=143234