Governor urges PTI to defer protest call in national interest

LAHORE:Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has said PTI should stop pursuing selfish political goals and call off the October 15 protest at D-Chowk, Islamabad in the larger national interest.

In an interview with APP here on Sunday, Sardar Saleem said that prime ministers of nine countries would arrive in Pakistan to attend the SCO summit on October 15 and 16 which was a matter of pride for the country and all political forces should work to present a positive image of the country instead of taking to the streets.

I understand that PTI is a political force but when it comes to the national prestige, we should give up politics, avoid personal agenda and put Pakistan first, he said, adding that heavens would not fall if PTI called off the protest for a week or so. He urged the PTI leadership to take the path of dialogue and play productive role in taking the country ahead rather than leading it to anarchy. Good or bad, the general election is over.

PTI should play the role of a good opposition in the parliament and I welcome their role as opposition. On the SCO summit in Pakistan, he it was a matter of immense pleasure that the SCO was being held in the country under Pakistan’s chairmanship and the country is coming out of the diplomatic isolation.

He said it was a good omen that the friendly countries have started to pay attention to Pakistan after many years and the SCO summit is the best opportunity to win gaze of the world. On the agrarian economy, the governor said the subsequent governments failed miserably to look after the agriculture sector of the country, adding that it was painful that the country had to import food items despite being an agricultural country. About disagreement on appointment of vice chancellors, the governor said that he did not have any disagreement with the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government, adding that how could he destabilise his coalition government. The governor said he did not want the PPP and PML-N coalition government to earn a bad name for some wrong decisions.

To a query, Sardar Saleem Haider hailed President Asif Ali Zardari for the success of the coalition government despite differences, adding that President Zardari embodies vision and would to make democracy work in the country. He said President Zardari may make all political forces sit at one table including a lost political party.