Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said his party would support new terms of engagement with the United States, including the reopening of Nato supply routes, if drone strikes ceased. Addressing a press conference on the eve of former PPP Senator Enver Baig's joining the PML-N, he said.
"How is it possible for us to reopen Nato supply route while US drones continue to ruin our sovereignty. We think there should be guarantees that no drone strike takes place, no foreign security contractor operates and none of the country's airbase are given to any other country."
He said any progress was impossible unless all these issues were resolved, adding that he had conveyed his party's concerns over these issues to the US ambassador and the British High Commissioner. Nawaz, however, said that the country should also address concerns of the world. "The world has concerns, which we should understand and address as well. But they should also address our concerns, such as drone strikes," he maintained, adding that Pakistan did not want to remain in isolation.
Dispelling the impression that there was any confusion among his party's leaders over the recommendations suggested by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), he said that the party had boycotted its session over the recent hike in POL prices. He said that the party had rejoined the panel when the prime minister had contacted him. He said that all stakeholders should sit together to address these issues.
Criticising the government and accusing of indulging in excessive corruption at the highest level, Nawaz said his party was in favour of early general elections, adding that it showed no interest in people's sufferings. Referring to President Zardari's recent visit to India, Nawaz said that his party would support any positive step taken by the government but would point out and criticise any step which was against national interest.
About allegations levelled by Younus Habib, he said that he had served a legal notice on Habib, adding that although he was sure he had never met him for the specific purpose, but he could not rule out the possibility of a past meeting. "He might have met me in a 'rush'. I never met him to discuss any specific matter," he added.
Referring to the Gilgit-Baltistan situation, the PML-N chief criticised the government and said it had failed to handle it, adding that sensitivity of the situation needed a special focus and the prime minister should have visited the troubled areas. He said that the imposition of curfew in Gilgit-Baltistan was not the solution to the problem. He said if the centre had provided guidance, the situation might not have worsened.
He said that his party would welcome all those Q leaguers who had not played any role in damaging the party during the Musharraf regime. However, he insisted that his party had no place for people who wanted to elect Musharraf 10 times over in the uniform.
Rejecting the idea that the PML-N was playing the role of a 'friendly opposition', he said that if his party had played such a role, President Zardari would not have uttered such unkind words about his party. Answering another question, he said there was no change in his party's stance over what he termed the 'Memogate' scandal, adding he was ready to again appear before the apex court if he were summoned.
Meanwhile, the PML-N chief also addressed lawyers of the Islamabad High Court Bar where its president, Ashraf Gujar, also announced to join the PML-N. Nawaz lauded the role of the legal fraternity in the movement for the restoration of deposed judges.
Terming the May 12, 2007 incident the blackest day, he also demanded that notice should also be taken of the incident and the culprits should be brought to justice. On May 12, 2007, more than 50 innocent people had been killed in Karachi when the chief justice was to visit the Sindh metropolis. Referring to the Balochistan issue, he said that the situation in the province could not normalise unless the killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti were arrested. He said that the PPP was not solely responsible for the current mess, its coalition partners were also responsible for the situation.