Criticizing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s recent “violence” during its three-day protest in Islamabad which was abruptly called off, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of miscreants.
While chairing a review meeting on the law and order situation in Islamabad on Thursday, the Prime Minister directed the authorities to establish special anti-riot forces across the country.
“The forces should be professionally trained and equipped with equipment as per international standards,” he said.
Islamabad faced gridlock on Monday and Tuesday after scores of PTI supporters flooded the federal capital, defying the ban imposed by the authorities.
The former ruling party’s “Do or Die” protest demanding the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan was abruptly called off after law enforcement agencies (LEAs) launched a crackdown.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that after at least 20 people lost their lives, the party will go to court against the government, the home ministry and the home minister.
Meanwhile, Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied the use of live ammunition during the operation, saying that 600 protesters were arrested in Tuesday’s operation, bringing the total number of protests since Sunday to 954. reached
In today’s meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed about the recent vandalism of public property and attacks on police and Rangers personnel by protesters.
He said that the people involved in this unprecedented corruption and conspiracies to bankrupt the country to save their government are now under the law. “Instead of taking the legal route, repeated attempts were made to spread chaos across the country by marching towards Islamabad,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further said that security forces personnel were injured and martyred during the march of the anarchists. “These so-called revolutionaries are making nefarious attempts to destroy the country.”
He said that the country has lost billions due to these nefarious attempts to spread chaos.
“This group of anarchists and their leaders are responsible for the economic loss to the country,” he said, adding that the miscreants should be immediately identified and given exemplary punishment.
Directing the authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to prevent marches in Islamabad or other cities for vested interests, the Prime Minister demanded that those who spread public unrest and chaos be brought to justice.
‘Contract Economy’
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the 26th National Security Workshop of Defense University in Islamabad.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s determination to change the economic scenario of Pakistan and said that the country’s national security is directly related to economic security.
“If we are economically strong, our exports are growing rapidly, the industrial sector is expanding… then our economic security will automatically strengthen our vital security,” he said.
Underscoring the government’s commitment to implement a comprehensive “Charter of Economy”, the Prime Minister said that in 2018, he, as Leader of the Opposition, had also proposed the idea of a Charter of Economy and now “we will implement this idea.” All ready to wear.” .
The Prime Minister stressed the need for privatization of all state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and said the government should exit such operations. [loss-making] Its mandate as a business was only to facilitate private enterprises.
“We should end the business altogether. [SOEs] To save trillions of rupees,” he said, adding that all institutions are on the same page, with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir also in complete unison on the issue.
Congratulating the audience on the strong performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which crossed 100,000 points on Thursday, the Prime Minister said it was the result of team efforts and close coordination between the federal government and various stakeholders.
“It is also about business sentiment and we believe that Pakistan is slowly moving in the right direction.”
He said that because of what happened in Islamabad yesterday, the stock market saw a huge drop of about 4000 points. However, he added that as things returned to normal, the market rallied in the next two days and crossed 100,000 points for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
The Prime Minister said that the economic growth spanning more than a decade was reduced rather than worsened due to various factors.
He said that the country is still facing many challenges. “We all know that in June 2023… Pakistan was on the brink of default for various reasons that we all know.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that the government was able to pull the economy out of crisis due to the successful standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
However, he said that the program would cause more hardship to the people, but the government had no choice.
About the security challenge, he said that about 80 thousand people sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism and economic losses reached 130 billion dollars.
He said that terrorism was completely defeated during Nawaz Sharif’s regime. However, “this threat has resurfaced, reflected in daily tragic events.”
“What happened in Parachinar just a few days ago, innocent people lost their lives on both sides,” he expressed grief.
He vowed to secure the country’s future with the cooperation of all stakeholders. We have to move forward together and this can only happen through unity of action.