PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon its politics of sit-ins and long marches, warning that “the law will take its course” if protests continue.
Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, the prime minister said the government was focused on national development and economic prosperity, but a “long march” was once again casting a shadow over the country.
He called on the opposition to act responsibly and end its sit-ins and long marches. Shehbaz said the government had previously hoped that negotiations with the opposition would produce positive results, but those efforts did not lead to an agreement.
He claimed that the PML-N and PPP had engaged in negotiations with the opposition in good faith, but changes were made to agreed matters at the last minute, which he said prevented the dialogue from succeeding.
The prime minister once again invited the opposition to the negotiating table, saying the government was willing to resume talks if PTI called off its sit-ins and long march. Shehbaz warned that protests and long marches could have consequences for the country’s economy.
“The economy will be the first casualty of sit-ins and long marches,” he said, questioning whether harming the economy could be considered in the national interest. He said protecting the lives and property of citizens was the government’s responsibility and reiterated that the law would take its course.
The prime minister maintained that the PTI should abandon its politics of sit-ins and choose dialogue instead. Speaking about the Kashmir Chowk expansion project, Shehbaz said the government had laid its foundation stone as part of efforts to improve infrastructure in the capital.
He said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had planned to complete the project within one month and praised Naqvi and his team for their efforts.
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