Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a zero-tolerance policy for any future violent protests or sit-ins by miscreants in Islamabad, vowing to take strong action to end the cycle of unrest and economic disruption caused by such chaos.
In a federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sharif, without naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), referred to the party’s actions in the federal capital as a continuous disruption by a group of miscreants, calling for a change in approach. He condemned these actions as a “fitna,” stressing that political chaos has no place in the country. The prime minister also compared these activities to the worst forms of Nazi-style fascism.
Sharif criticized the disregard for the Islamabad High Court’s directives and accused individuals of undermining the country for personal gain. “We will break the hand that harms the country,” he vowed.
He stressed the need for strict measures to prevent future disturbances, emphasizing that the government could no longer continue to expend resources and energy on addressing these issues, which lead to economic destruction. The prime minister stated that the only path forward for the country should be progress and prosperity, and vowed to prevent further harm to the nation’s economy.
Referring to the recent unrest in Islamabad, Sharif praised law enforcement agencies for successfully dispersing the protest and restoring order. However, he highlighted the significant economic losses caused by such riots, including the impact on businesses, traders, daily wage earners, and the healthcare system. The country’s stock market also saw a sharp decline, losing 4,000 points in a single day.
The prime minister noted that such disruptions, particularly since 2014, had become more frequent, and pointed out how PTI’s leadership had previously caused similar damage by staging protests during crucial international visits, including those of Chinese and Saudi Arabian delegations.
Sharif also condemned the violence during the recent attacks, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of security personnel. He reiterated that the Constitution allows for peaceful protests but condemned the violent actions.
In discussing the ongoing situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the prime minister criticized the provincial government for neglecting the growing insurgency and instead directing efforts toward an armed attack on Islamabad. He also condemned the leadership for their inflammatory rhetoric against the federal government.
The prime minister stated that the recent unrest had caused Rs190 billion in daily economic losses, severely impacting exports and imports. He called the actions of the protestors a grave crime against the country’s interests.
Sharif emphasized that the meeting’s primary agenda was to discuss how to prevent future disruptions. He assured that the government would not allow such incidents to occur again, asserting, “We will steer Pakistan out of the challenges.”
He concluded by reflecting on the recent economic recovery, crediting the coalition government for its joint efforts in curbing inflation and stabilizing the economy. The prime minister also criticized PTI’s leadership for failing to address past electoral grievances and creating tensions with friendly countries for personal gain.
