ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, once again invited opposition leaders in parliament to engage in talks, stressing that democratic values could only be strengthened by resolving differences through dialogue. Addressing the National Assembly, the prime minister recalled that he had repeatedly proposed charters of democracy and economy in the past, but his sincere offers were turned down. He said that he continued to hold respect for …
PM renews call for dialogue with Opposition to uphold democratic norms
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, once again invited opposition leaders in parliament to engage in talks, stressing that democratic values could only be strengthened by resolving differences through dialogue.
Addressing the National Assembly, the prime minister recalled that he had repeatedly proposed charters of democracy and economy in the past, but his sincere offers were turned down.
He said that he continued to hold respect for opposition leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Barrister Gohar Khan.
“I am available. It is never too late to mend,” the prime minister maintained while addressing the opposition benches.
The prime minister said that the members in the house belonged to all parts of the country and this esteemed house is likened to a home, accommodating people from the four provinces.
He opined that their visions, thoughts and politics might differ, but to make Pakistan stronger and enhance its esteem among the comity of nations, they must give the message that they would thrive if the country exists.
Referring to a remark of the leader of the opposition, the prime minister said that inhabitants of the respective provinces had their due rights over provincial economic resources, and there was no dispute.
Citing the Reko Diq agreement, he said it was reached in consultations with the provincial leadership and the residents.
Terming it as ‘a bright example’, he further said that during 2010, a historic NFC award was reached in which the shares of people of Balochistan had been enhanced by 100 percent.
Punjab had allocated the major share at that time by earmarking Rs11 billion rupees annually, he said, adding that other provinces also contributed.
The prime minister said that Rs75 billion had been allocated for the solarization in the province, which benefited farmers, while from Gwadar to Chaman, a road was being constructed for 300 billion rupees.
He said the demand for the road was not made by the opposition leader, but considering it as his responsibility as the prime minister, he approved its construction. It was the onus of his office that all the provinces should equally move on the path of progress and prosperity.
The prime minister, expressing grief over the martyrdom of 22 security personnel in a helicopter crash incident, said that the two crew members belonged to the Christian community.
He said terrorism in Balochistan was being supported by foreign hands and they had proved their involvement with solid evidence.
To another point of the opposition leader, the prime minister justified the fencing of the Durand Line, for the security of the people and the country, and said that it was the right decision.
“If a child’s life in the country is saved, he considers spending an amount on border fencing justified,” he maintained.
The prime minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been affected by terrorism, where personnel of law enforcement agencies, security forces and armed forces were facing it bravely and sacrificing their lives.
“They left their children orphans but saved millions of children of the nation. We collectively owe to their sacrifices; therefore, we should pay homage to martyrs,” he stressed.
Terming it as ‘a saga of pain’, he said that if they did not pay due respect to their shuhada, future generations would not forgive them.
