Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the aim of economic development in Pakistan cannot be achieved without curbing violence and restoration of peace in Karachi. He said that the existing wave of violence in Karachi is a threat to the survival of the country and no ordinary measures can meet this extraordinary situation.
According to the information received from DGPR here on Thursday, he was addressing a conference of international organisation of young traders, YEO, in Karachi during the day. Senior leadership of Muslim League-N from all the four provinces including Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Sardar Yaqub Nasir, General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd), Pervaiz Rashid, Rana Sanaullah, Saleem Zia, Mamnoon Hussain and a large number of office-bearers and workers of YEO were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that the root cause of the problems being faced by Pakistan including Karachi issue is lack of accountability of looters and plunderers and he believes that everyone damaging the country including politicians, bureaucrats, generals and judges should be held accountable. He said that he was deeply shocked by the tragic incidents of murders and violence brought to his notice in Karachi.
He said that the elements involved in bloodshed of innocent citizens and looters should be made an example. He said that dictatorial regimes bred linguistic, sectarian and regional prejudices which have given rise to the present situation from which the enemies of the country are benefiting.
The Chief Minister said that instead of shifting their capital abroad, the traders should play their role for rectifying the situation and young traders can play a pivotal role in this connection. He said that he has not come to Karachi as chief minister but as an ordinary Pakistani and like every citizen of the country it is his earnest desire that peace and normalcy should return to Karachi and people of the city could again live in peace and tranquillity.
Earlier, a delegation of Ulema led by Maulana Awais Noorani met the Chief Minister. The Ulema were of the view that all political parties should exert pressure on federal and Sindh governments for restoration of peace in Karachi. The meeting decided that PML-N leadership will remain in constant contact with Ulema over the Karachi issue.
The Ulema said that the dreadful situation being faced by the people of Karachi cannot be judged from the news of electronic and print media. The Chief Minister also met the families of the victims of target killings in Karachi and prayed for the departed souls. He said that the blood of those who have lost their lives at the hands of enemies of Pakistan will not go waste and the murderers will have to face punishment in this world and the world hereafter.