PAKISTAN’S PM CALLS FOR END TO DRONE STRIKES
He recently voted in as the country’s leader for a third time, was sworn in by the President Asif Ali Zardari, he called for an end to drone strikes and terrorism, and promised to work on relieving domestic power problems.
Sharif took the oath, administered by Zardari, on Wednesday (5/6), marking the country’s first democratically elected transition of power. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party secured a big victory in May’s elections.
In his address to parliament earlier on Wednesday, Sharif listed Pakistan’s problems and renewed a call to end drone strikes. “This daily business of drones has to stop immediately,” he told parliament. “Other countries must respect our sovereignty and address our concerns.
“We have to end lawlessness and terrorism.” Sharif added.
Sharif also talked about bringing about peace in the Sindh and Balochistan areas, and promised stronger infrastructure including the uncompleted Khunjerab railway network to China.
There were “street celebrations on this very historic election” on Wednesday.
Sharif said in an interview he plans to go to Washington and implore US President Barack Obama to stop these strikes which are stoking anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.
On Friday, the prime minister publicly criticised a US drone strike that killed the group’s second-in-command in northwest Pakistan as a violation of sovereignty, echoing Islamabad’s longstanding complaint about the controversial missile attacks.(T/P05/P03)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
