Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Shakargarh on Saturday and met families of the citizens who were martyred at different places along the working boundary due to unprovoked firing of Indian forces.
The chief minister expressed his sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the martyrs, early recovery of the injured as well as progress and prosperity of the country. He also distributed cheques of financial assistance of 5, 00,000 rupees each among the heirs of the martyrs and announced free treatment and educational facilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif said that those laying down their lives for the nation were national heroes and their sacrifices would not go to waste. He said that all possible attention would be paid to proper care of the families and children of the martyrs. He said that India’s action of targeting unarmed citizens was extremely condemnable.
Pakistan Army is fully capable to give a befitting reply to Indian aggression and the Pakistani nation is standing by its forces, he said, and added that those who lay down their lives for the country are martyrs and they never die.
He said that attack under the cover of darkness was an old habit of India, however, the morale of Pakistani nation is high and defeat is the fate of the enemy. Shehbaz Sharif said that officers of armed forces, police as well as students, mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation have written a new history of sacrifices in the war against terrorism and extremism.
He said that while the enemy is violating working boundary and line of control, conspiracies are also being hatched against national economy. He said that had there been no sit-ins in 2014, 1320-megawatt coal power plant in Sahiwal would have been functional and generating energy.
Shehbaz Sharif said that when Altaf Hussain threatened to lockdown Karachi, Imran Khan had said that Altaf was showing enmity to the nation. He said that now what should one say about the call given by him to ‘lock down’ the capital. He said that threat to lockdown Islamabad is an attempt to hinder the process of national progress and prosperity, however, the people of Pakistan will foil all conspiracies against prosperity and self-sufficiency of the country.
He reminded that earlier Khan Sahib was all praise for former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry but later he turned against him. Similarly, he had expressed confidence in former Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk but when he gave a verdict against his party, he started criticising him.
The chief minister said that Pakistan was making rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and this fact was being acknowledged at international level as well. He said that China, which is a true friend of Pakistan, has expressed its support to Pakistan at a difficult time and by announcing economic package of 46 billion dollar, has proved its friendship and generosity. He said that CPEC was a game changer, which would leave a far-reaching impact on Pakistan as well as the whole region.
Shehbaz Sharif said that work was being carried out speedily on development projects worth billions of rupees in the country and that power projects are being completed on priority basis. He said that destiny of the country was going to change and darkness will be removed from the country by the end of next year while industry, agriculture and development activities will accelerate and a number of job opportunities would be available.
The chief minister said that completion of ongoing development projects would expedite the process of progress and development, adding that every moment is precious in the life of a nation and delay in the journey of progress is unaffordable.
Shehbaz Sharif said that a notice of compensation of 26 billion rupees had been sent to Imran Khan for levelling false and baseless allegations and he would continue to fight the case until the truth is established.