Nawaz backs demand for Hazara province
15 April, 2010
|
| Nawaz backs demand for Hazara province |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GHAZI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the defeated elements were playing politics over dead bodies in Hazara division.
Addressing a gathering at the residence of former chief minister and PML-N leader Pir Sabir Shah in Sirikot, Haripur district, he said the PML-N never deceived the residents of Hazara. Nawaz Sharif’s surprise visit to Hazara was the first by a major politician after that of PML-Q head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. However, Nawaz Sharif didn’t travel to Haripur city or Abbottabad that are simmering with protests against the renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and for creation of Hazara province.
“If a separate province is the desire of the people of Hazara, the PML-N will support their stance,” Nawaz Sharif said. However, he urged the people not to be trapped by the PML-Q leadership’s propaganda and shun violence.
“We believe in unity and cohesion and people must reject those promoting the politics of separatism,” he stressed. He lauded the people of Hazara who always supported him and the PML-N.
Nawaz Sharif said he had time and again cautioned the stakeholders not to make the renaming of NWFP conditional to the constitutional amendment package but his warnings were not heeded to.
“Confrontation and protests are no solution to issues,” he said, adding the government must take steps to redress the grievances of the people of Hazara. He also urged the dwellers of Hazara to avoid certain disgruntled elements who were inciting people to violence to promote their vested interests.
On the occasion Fateha was offered for the persons who were killed in the recent protests in Abbottabad. Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Raja Zafarul Haq, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Sardar Mushtaq, Abid advocate and Barrister Javed Abbasi were also present on the occasion.
APP adds: The PML-N leader demanded accountability of the elements involved in Abbottabad’s tragedy and urged the politicians to play their positive role in bringing the situation towards normalcy and calm.
Talking to mediamen after a party meeting here, he said the people of Hazara have given numerous sacrifices for the country and he was there to personally review the situation. He said those who had destroyed the peace of Abbottabad and Hazara, should be taken to task. He said there should be no politics on bodies and urged the PML-Q to avoid playing with the sentiments of the people. Politics on the bodies of those killed in Abbottabad would serve no purpose. Instead it would further deteriorate the law and order, he added.
The PML-N chief said he had already made it clear to the concerned quarters that linking Khyber-Pakthunkhwa with the 18th Amendment Bill would complicate the situation. He said in the larger interest of the country and democracy, the PML-N added ‘Khyber’ with the proposed name of “Pakthoonkhwa” for NWFP.
“Had we not offered sacrifice, the package prepared by the Constitutional Reforms Committee after long deliberations would not have been approved and our dream to get rid of the 17th Amendment passed in Musharraf’s era would have been faded,” he added.
He said the PML-N always believed in politics of principles and took decisions keeping in view the interests of the country and people. The PML-N chief urged the party workers to make close contacts with the people and urged politicians of Hazara to help bring the tempers down. He said that victim families would not be left alone in this hour of trial.
INP adds: Mian Nawaz Sharif said no one will be allowed to do politics on bodies and become champion of Hazara. “We will not allow anyone to become ‘Chaudhry’ of Hazara,” Nawaz said sending an open message to the PML-Q, accusing it of fuelling the sentiments of the people of Hazara.
Pointing the finger at the Chaudhry brothers for the violence, he said they have misled Hazarawals leading to bloodshed, which is highly condemnable. “They have lost elections at their home in Gujarat. They are not in a position to field their candidate anywhere in elections and now they are giving life to their dead politics on dead bodies”.
He said the PML-N was well aware of the situation and is of the view that the issue must be handled with cool mindedness and patience. Expressing his grief over the loss of innocent lives, Nawaz Sharif said he has asked the NWFP chief minister to point out those doing politics on the issue and playing with the lives of the people.
“I have talked to Chief Minister Hoti and asked him to hold accountable those doing politics on dead bodies and to provide assistance to those killed, injured, or who suffered property losses in Abbottabad.”
The PML-N quaid said his party has not betrayed anyone but has always done politics of principles honestly. He said his party members belonging to Hazara division had strong reservations over the renaming of the province, but his party has sacrificed for a greater cause in the best interest of the country.
To remedy the situation, the PML-N chief said his party will invite all the stakeholders to sit together and reach out to a unanimous position on the issue. However, he said those involved in instigating the masses should also shoulder responsibility.
End.
|
