Daily Times

LONDON: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that his government was committed to fast-tracking development and prosperity in the country and strengthening the democratic system and norms.

Talking to media persons on his arrival here, the prime minister brushed aside all rumours being churned out at home by certain quarters about his government. He said that he was visiting London in connection with his medical check up and expressed his resolve to redouble efforts for the country’s progress and development by utilising all available resources.

The prime minister said that he had already addressed the nation on Panama leaks. He said he wondered what was illegal or in violation of law in this case. To a query, he said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan explained government’s point of view on the commission on Panama leaks on Wednesday. He, however, said that nobody would be allowed to derail Pakistan’s journey towards development. He said that nefarious designs of certain elements that wanted to stop the wheel of development would not be successful.

“No effort should be made to hamper progress of the country, nor Pakistan could afford it,” he added.

Sharif said in response to a query that the government would take the country on the path of unimaginable prosperity and development in the next two years. He said the Thar Coal project was being inaugurated for the first time in the country’s history and it would generate inexpensive coal power. He said the project would prove a ‘game changer’ for the Pakistani economy. He said his government attached high priority to such development projects and hinted that gas load shedding would end by 2018.

The prime minister said that previous governments were responsible for power load shedding. In contrast, he said, his government was making efforts to end it. He linked completion of development projects to welfare of the masses, growth of the industry, increase in exports and production, creation of jobs and decrease in the prices of the daily use commodities.

The prime minister said the government should be supported because it was working for provision of relief to 200 million people of Pakistan. Referring to his role as leader of the opposition during the government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sharif said that he offered his complete support to the then government. He said that neither he did politics of bringing down elected governments nor he supported any step to weaken the democratic system.

“The prosperity of the country is close to my heart. I want development and progress of the motherland. I never compromised these objectives for power,” he added.

The prime minister said in response to a question that ‘a personality’ was hell bent on putting hurdles in government’s way. The government tolerated such shows in the form of sit-ins in 2014 and it was tolerating them today. He advised such elements to refrain from negative tactics that could harm democracy.

About his relations with the PPP top brass, Sharif said he enjoyed good relations with former president Asif Ali Zardari. He said that he greeted the PPP leader when he completed his term as president of Pakistan.

Similarly, he said, Zardari congratulated him when his party won the last general election. He said that he took former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to the inaugural ceremony of the Multan airport. He said that such gestures would strengthen democracy and rule of law in the country. He said that some ‘immature elements’ would soon understand the situation. “A personality was alienating himself through his antics,” he said. He praised the PPP for not supporting such elements.

About relations with India, the prime minister said that both countries should move forward like good neighbours and resolve their outstanding issues, including Kashmir. He said that an Indian spy was arrested in Balochistan and such interference in Pakistan must stop.