US itself can judge Indian seriousness on peace: Nawaz

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said the US could judge the seriousness of India in maintaining peace with Pakistan from the tension on the Working Boundary and numerous ceasefire violations by India. He also expressed his resolve to take the country out of the prevailing crises and security fears attributed to terrorism.
In a meeting with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at their Raiwind residence on Sunday, Nawaz expressed his disappointment with the ongoing situation in the country and said the PML-N government was aware of the challenges confronting ordinary citizens, including the serious problem of petrol shortages. The government had deployed all its resources to end the people’s sufferings, he said.
He said that under the current situation, those doing the politics of protests and violence were against the national interests of Pakistan. He said the government was committed to strengthening national unity against terrorism and ensuring that conspiracies to destabilise the country do not succeed.
He expressed satisfaction over the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and commended the Pakistani public for supporting the war against terror. He said the country would soon be free of all forms of terrorism and peace would be restored.
On the power blackouts throughout Pakistan, he expressed his dismay over the temporary suspension of electricity supply to most of the country and assured that security arrangements in volatile parts of Balochistan, where electricity suppliers and gas pipelines were being targeted by militants, would be amplified.
Shahbaz briefed the prime minister on security arrangements made for the safety of all educational institutions in the province. He also briefed the premier on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism. He assured the PM all law-enforcement bodies were on high alert in the province with the Punjab Police conducting raids and netting suspected terrorists and their accomplices. He also talked about the petrol crisis in the province and development projects under process.
The prime minister expressed his confidence over the working of the government of Punjab and instructed Shahbaz to show no leniency to ministers and officials ignoring their duties. Nawaz said the PML-N government was bound to serve the public and work for their economic and social empowerment.