‘Tough decisions’ need of the hour to rid country of ‘dharna-politics’: PM Shehbaz

• Tough decisions will have to be taken now: PM. 
• “We’ll break hand that wants to sacrifice Pakistan.”
• Says no one imagined onslaught of Islamabad before. 
  

After the law enforcers drove the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters out of Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the need for taking tough decisions to rid the country of politics of agitation and ensure stability.

“We have to decide whether we save Pakistan or allow sit-ins to take place,” the prime minister said while addressing the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday. 

PM Shehbaz’s remarks come after PTI’s violent protest in Islamabad which saw clashes between the supporters of the party and the law enforcers, closure of roads and educational institutions. 

The premier said that there was no one even imagined to onslaught Islamabad before, stressing that tough decisions will have to be taken now through mutual consultation.

“We have two paths which we can take and it is obvious that we have to take the path of development and prosperity,” said PM Shehbaz, adding that the authorities will have no decide to not give these rioters be given any chance after today.

Speaking about the economic dent faced by the country due to violent protests, PM Shehbaz said that the businesses were shut while workers and shopkeepers were complaining.

“Our stock exchange, which had crossed 99,000, faced a plunge of over 4,000 points yesterday due to the riots,” he regretted. “The economy is facing a loss of Rs190 billion daily.”

Recalling the time when the Imran Khan-founded party had staged a sit-in in 2014, PM Shehbaz said the rioters caused violence for 126 days at a time when Chinese president had to visit the country. However, he added, the “rioters caused the visit to be postponed”.

He further highlighted that the rioters had once again tried to create chaos ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the capital.

“There was a wave of concern among our guests whether to visit Pakistan or not,” he said.

Shedding a light on the Belarusian president’s visit to Pakistan, the prime minister said the two countries will sign agreements in January.

The PM said had the courts given strict punishment to the criminals of May 9, we would not have to see this day. “We have to decide after much deliberation and think about which direction we need to take,” he added.

Premier Shehbaz also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is suffering from a rise of terrorism, adding that dozens of people were martyred in the Kurram clashes.

“They should have [resolved] the Parachinar and Kurram matters but they attacked Islamabad using government resources,” he said during the address.

The prime minister further said that this was not a movement but a sedition and there is no room for sedition in politics. “This is a conspiracy and it must be ended at all costs,” he added.

“We will break the hand that wants to sacrifice Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz stressed.