 ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office on Wednesday pledging to fix the country's ailing economy and end electricity blackouts
| ...he's gonna light that light bulb, you betcha... |
while also calling for an end to American drone strikes in the tribal areas.
| He'll light the rural areas first... |
Speaking to parliament after he was elected, Sharif acknowledged the size of the problems in front of him and vowed action. "I will do my best to change the fate of the people and Pakistan," he said.
During the speech to lawmakers, Sharif droned on and on emphasised that fixing the country's economy was his top priority. He listed a litany of problems facing Pakistan, including unpaid loans, unemployment, a disillusioned youth, extremism and lawlessness, and widespread corruption.
"People should know that the country's economy is in a very bad state which is beyond imagination and we have to make payments worth trillions," he said. "But I will not rest nor will I let any member of my team do so until we are able to improve the economic situation."
| Maybe the Saudis will loan you money, and Zardari won't be there for his ten percent... |
He called for an end to the drone strikes used by the US to kill militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to the west.
"This daily routine of drone attacks, this chapter shall now be closed," Sharif said to widespread applause in the parliament hall. "We do respect others' sovereignty. It is mandatory on others that they respect our sovereignty."
| But he doesn't consider Afghanistan a country, he considers it his country's back yard... |
But he gave few details on how he might end the strikes.
| It's actually very easy. Throw the U.S. out of the country and forego all the aid in return... |
His assumption of office marks a turning point for the country -- the first time a democratically elected government has handed over power to another in the country's 65-year history. The unique nature of the transition was evident in Sharif's speech.
"Whenever dictatorship has come, Pakistan has suffered a huge loss," he said. "Now it should be decided forever that Pakistan's survival, protection, sovereignty, progress, prosperity and respect in the international community depends upon strengthening democracy in Pakistan." |