Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday said he considered dialogue as the priority option to curb terrorism in the country.
Addressing the political leaders at the All Parties Conference (APC) convened at the PM House to discuss security issues, he said his party had always stressed serious efforts for dialogue in the previous APCs as well. Nawaz Sharif said the solution to address the terrorism issue would be sorted out with consensus after thorough deliberations by the participants. He said it was the need of the hour for all political forces in the country to shun politicking on issues of national importance such as terrorism and energy crisis, and join hands to address them unanimously.
“We have to rise above politics on some issues and develop a national consensus for the sake of this country,” the Prime Minister told the political leaders.
Nawaz Sharif said together, this would prove as the “best step” for the country and added that everybody needed to work on warfooting in this regard.
“If we get rid this country of terrorism and extremism, we would become a strong nation of the 21st century,” he said.
He said that he had also directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to extend cooperation to provinces to ensure their better coordination with the federal government on security issues.
The fight against militancy had resulted into loss of lives of thousands ofinnocent civilians and military troops.It also faced huge financial setback as the businessmen were reluctant to invest, said the Prime Minister.
On law and order situation in Karachi,he expressed satisfaction that all majorpolitical parties including Pakistan Peoples Party and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) gave their consent for a targetted operation.
The Prime Minister said it was a test for the democracy to deliver results in shape of peace and a strong economy.
“If we will continue to take decisions with consensus, the people will have more trust on democracy.”
Nawaz Sharif said the country’s history witnessed unprecedented smooth democratic transition as the new government took over and a president left the Presidency with honour and prestige.
Later, Director General ISI Lt.Gen Zaheerul Islam briefed the participants of the APC on security situation in the country.