LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said that politics of protest and confrontation hinders and undermines the national ideals of progress and development.

Speaking to a delegation of national and provincial lawmakers, he said the country has been passing through a critical phase and was facing internal and external challenges, adding that it cannot afford the ‘protest politics.’

The statement comes in the wake of Pakistan Awmi Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s expected arrival in the country.

Qadri earlier had said that if his supporters are harmed upon his arrival, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be held responsible and the party would hold protests outside the Prime Minister house in Islamabad.

The chief minister said the elements engaged in politics of agitation were trying to hamper the ongoing process of progress and development, but 180 million patriotic and enlightened people of Pakistan will reject the politics of sabotage and chaos.

Also read: Nisar warns against any attempts to march on Islamabad

Sharif said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has worked day and night during the last one year to steer the country out of problems due to which national economy has improved considerably, adding that the rupee has appreciated 15 per cent against the US dollar while tax collection has also increased.

The CM Punjab said that overall national production has enhanced, textile exports have increased by seven per cent while foreign exchange reserves have exceeded 14 billion dollars.

He said expeditious efforts are being made for resolving energy crisis and 1,700 megawatts of electricity have been added to national grid in a short period while work has been started on 19 projects of generation of 24,870 megawatts electricity.

CM Sharif said China has announced an investment package of $32 billion for energy, infrastructure and other sectors and due to solid and comprehensive measures taken by the government, the pace of progress and development has accelerated.

“Our political opponents have failed to accuse federal or Punjab government of corruption of even a single penny during the last one year and national resources are being spent on the welfare and betterment of the people,” he added.

He said principles of justice and fair play will be fulfilled at all costs regarding the loss of precious human lives in a clash with police in Lahore and those responsible for this tragic incident will not escape punishment.

Shahbaz Sharif said he fully realizes the sentiments of families of the deceased people as well as leaders and workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), adding that he took emergent measures after the sad incident and made some tough decisions to uphold truth and justice.

He said the report of judicial commission will be implemented in letter and spirit and the guilty persons will not escape punishment.

“Shahbaz Sharif cannot tolerate that people are subjected to cruelty merely to remove barricades and is determined to provide justice to the affectees at any cost,” he stressed.

The chief minister said the case registered against sons of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri was withdrawn the same night, adding as “Khadim-e-Punjab” (servant of Punjab) his six years' tenure was before the masses.

The Punjab chief minister said he was ready to go to any extent to ensure transparent and impartial inquiry. He said that people of Punjab are like his family and he can fully realise the feelings of the bereaved families.

Shahbaz Sharif said the government has started exemplary programmes to resolve the problems of the masses and hampering this process was neither a service to the country nor a revolution.