'Govt should evolve national policy to combat terrorism'
Pakistan's opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said that the federal Govt should evolve a national policy to combat terrorism after taking all political parties into confidence.
Pakistan's opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the federal government should evolve a national policy to combat terrorism after taking all political parties into confidence.
Addressing a large number of party workers at the airport in Lahore on his return from a private visit to Saudi Arabia, Sharif, who heads PML-N party, said no individual party could effectively tackle terror on its own.
A national policy for fighting terror should be evolved only after taking all major political parties into confidence, he said.
The PML-N was part of the Pakistan People's Party-led ruling coalition at the centre till August, when it pulled out of the alliance after accusing PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari of reneging on promises to reinstate judges deposed during last year's emergency rule.
Former premier Sharif's comments came a day ahead of a joint session of parliament convened by President Zardari to brief lawmakers on the mentarians during the session as part of the government's efforts to gain the backing of elected representatives for the war on terror.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, provincial ministers and PML-N leaders were present at the airport to welcome Nawaz Sharif. However, he left without speaking to the media due to security concerns.
The federal government has stepped up security for all political and religious leaders, parliamentarians and federal and provincial ministers following suicide attacks on Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and PML-N lawmaker Rasheed Akbar Nawani. Both politicians had a narrow escape when suicide bombers blew themselves up in their residences.