Taliban's offer of talks should be taken seriously: Nawaz tells PML-N legislators-elect

President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for taking Taliban's offer for talks seriously, saying that every issue cannot be solved through use of power and bullet. "We have lost 40,000 lives. Our economy is deteriorating. If Taliban offer us an option to have dialogue, we should take it seriously. Why can't we talk to Taliban to make our country peaceful? There must be the writ of the government and rule of law in the country," Nawaz said while addressing PML-N MNAs and MPAs-elect here at Al-Hamra Hall.
He said that loans would only be obtained to overcome the present financial predicaments and not for leading luxurious life. "We have already pledged in the PML-N manifesto that there would be a 30 percent cut on non-developmental expenditures of the government. The first 30 days would make it clear that the PML-N-led government is moving in the right direction," he added.
Regarding the prevailing economic situation, Nawaz said that there were manifold problems in the face of scarce resources and huge loans. The previous government had obtained loans of Rs 16,000 billions, he added. However, the PML-N government would try to resolve the issues within minimum possible time. Nawaz said that he was worried about the country as well as the nation. "We will try devotedly to accomplish the work of years in months and months in days. Within the first 100 days of the government we will put the country on the right track," he said.
Expressing his firm resolve to devote his energies for steering the country out of the manifold crises, Nawaz said the PML-N had already started work to resolve the problems faced by the people. He urged party legislators-elect to devote their energies for the betterment of the country as well as countrymen by working with honesty and devotion.
Refusing to give a deadline for overcoming the serious problem of electricity load shedding, Nawaz said it would be top priority of the PML-N government to end loadshedding at minimum possible time. He expressed concern over miseries faced by people due to prolonged loadshedding.
Had the previous government paid attention to the problem of electricity loadshedding the situation would have been altogether different today, he said. He further said that circular debt of 500 billions of rupees was a major concern. "We would not leave the problem of electricity loadshedding for others rather we would resolve it by taking right steps in the right direction," he resolved.
About the performance of the PML-N in May 11, 2013 polls, he said the PML-N got votes on the basis of its performance and an elected government has every right to complete its constitutional tenure according to the mandate given by the people. Nawaz said the PML-N accepted the mandate of all political parties in general elections 2013. The PML-N had the opportunity to form its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the support of other parties but it announced that it was the right of single largest party to form the government there, he added. He said the PML-N and other like-minded parties will form government in Balochistan to resolve the problems of the people of the province.
Nawaz said the PPP and MQM have got mandate in Sindh and they should form government there and focus on good governance and improving law and order. "We will help the provincial governments in every way, but there should be an end to the ongoing violence in Karachi," he added. He said the centre would extend all out help and support to the provinces to bring about peace and improve security environment.
He asked the PPPP and MQM to restore peace and law & order in Karachi. "We would extend support to them but there must be an end to the ongoing killings," he emphasised. Nawaz said that President Asif Ali Zardari had so far not conveyed felicitation to him over PML-N's success in the general elections.
He said people held the previous rulers accountable for their poor performance and massive corruption. He added the PPPP had obtained just 100,000 votes from 13 constituencies in Lahore from which we lost on one NA seat. "We would try to know the reasons of our defeat in one NA seat from Lahore," he added. Nawaz warned the legislators that "people will also reject us if we failed to deliver and solve their problems. If we performed well, they will elect us also in the next elections."