| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Pak PM appeals for calm after political unrest |
| 2009-03-01 |
| Pakistani Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday appealed for calm among the protesters ransacking public property since a court banned the top opposition leader from contesting elections. Protesters are heeding a call from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who leads the second largest party in Pakistan, to rise up after the Supreme Court Wednesday barred him and his brother from holding public office. Following disqualifications, the federal government imposed its rule in the province by suspending the provincial assembly for two months to dislodge the government of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). Gilani "has appealed to those taking to the streets to show restraint and calm and use elected forums for expressing their views", a statement issued by his office said. The premier "has deplored the ongoing violence and loss to public property in various parts of the country," it added. "The Prime Minister also asked the leadership of PML(N) to dissuade their political activists from giving way to their anger on the streets and creating a law and order situation." Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, addressing a press conference in Lahore also called for calm. "I appeal to people that they should keep their protest peaceful and there should not be any violence and damage to public property," Sharif said. Meanwhile police and protesters clashed again on Saturday in Islamabad on the main highway towards the international airport, a police official said, adding that no one was arrested. |
| Posted by:Fred |