Lockdown a plot against CPEC: CM

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that announcement to lock down Islamabad is a conspiracy against CPEC and the process of national progress and the elements indulging in unjustified protests should mend their ways.

The chief minister said that after the hearing of Panama Leaks case in the Supreme Court, the Islamabad lockdown plan had no justification and Niazi Sahib’s announcement to close Islamabad had lost democratic, political and moral support. 

He said the elements engaged in sit-in politics should not try to mislead the masses. He said that negative politics could be of no benefit to the country. In a statement, Shahbaz Sharif said at a time when Pakistan was on the road to progress and prosperity, darkness was coming to an end and the country was more stable, peaceful and secure than 2013, protest and negative politics was nothing but a hurdle in the process of national progress and prosperity and tantamount to enmity with people of Pakistan. He said some political elements rejected by the masses were doing no service to the country. He said that CPEC which had been given by China, a sincere friend of Pakistan, is a historic gift and a blessing of Allah and is a game changer for the region, including Pakistan. He said a huge investment of 46 billion dollars would change the destiny of Pakistan and result in prosperity of citizens but some political elements were bent upon depriving the people of Pakistan of the benefit of this splendid project. Shahbaz Sharif said that announcement to lockdown Islamabad was a conspiracy against CPEC and the process of national progress and the elements indulging in unjustified protests should mend their ways. He said those who were involved in negative politics were actually afraid of development process and wanted to stop it by any means. 

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had welcomed the hearing of Panama Leaks case in Supreme Court with an open heart. He said under a democratic system, decisions were taken in parliament and not in streets. He said that those indulging in negative politics should know that people had become politically conscious and would not allow anyone to hamper the process of national development and prosperity. 

Punjab police: American Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R Brownfield called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Friday, and assured all-out cooperation for the training on modern lines and capacity-building of Punjab police. He appreciated the vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif regarding police reforms and said cooperation of any kind desired by the chief minister would be extended for the training and capacity-building of police. He said under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif unprecedented measures had been taken with the help of information technology for improving efficiency of Punjab police. He said he had visited more than 90 police headquarters in the world but the standard of work at headquarters of Punjab police was the highest. He said that improvement in the policing system with the help of information technology was highly laudable.

US Assistant Secretary of State said that Punjab police headquarters was of the standard of Los Angeles, Chicago and other such headquarters. He accredited the chief minister and his team  for making Punjab police a modern force. He said efficiency of Punjab police was better than that of other provinces of Pakistan.

William R. Brownfield said he was happy that Punjab police had been given a new face with the help of information technology. He said America would provide all-out technical assistance for police training on modern lines as well as regarding high security prisons. He said that under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab police had become a police force providing best services.

The chief minister, while speaking on the occasion, said a lot of work had been done during last three and a half years for controlling terrorism, extremism and energy crisis. He said the Pakistani nation was determined to win the war against terrorism. He said war against terrorism would be won with the force of unity to make Pakistan a haven of peace. He said that besides use of force, provision of education, health and job opportunities was essential for controlling the trend of extremism. He said the aim of making Pakistan a secure and peaceful country would be achieved at any cost. Shahbaz Sharif said the first counter-terrorism force in the country had been formed by the Punjab government for controlling terrorism besides Dolphin Force was also working for combating crimes. He said that technical cooperation of America in the training of police at Elite Police Training School and high security prisons would be welcomed. He said there were multidimensional nations between Pakistan and America which should be further expanded.

American Consul General Yuriy Fedkiw, Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, Secretary Prosecution and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.  

SPANISH ENVOY CALLS ON CM

Spanish Ambassador in Pakistan Carlos Ceser Morales Sanchez called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Friday.

Talking to Spanish Ambassador, the chief minister said there were best friendly and trade relations between Pakistan and Spain; however, there was a need to take effective steps for promotion of economic, trade and business activities.

He said the Punjab government would take solid measures for promoting cooperation in different sectors as well as trade, economic and business activities. He said there were vast opportunities of investment in Pakistan especially Punjab and Spain could take benefit from these opportunities. He said terrorists had been rooted out through operation Zarb-e-Azb and Pakistan had become a peaceful and secure country due to which a large number of foreign investors were making investment in Pakistan especially Punjab.

The chief minister congratulated Spanish Ambassador on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Spain.

The Spanish Ambassador appreciated improvement in economy in Pakistan and said Pakistan had gained economic stability in the tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-N and law and order had substantially improved. He said a number of Spanish companies were working in Pakistan especially Punjab and cooperation should be further improved in different sectors. The Spanish Ambassador also congratulated Punjab Chief Minister on 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Spain and Pakistan.