Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be considered its weakness: PM Shehbaz

• PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Karachi on a day-long visit.
• Holds meetings with MQM-P and PML-N delegations.
• Visits Nawabshah to condole with Asif Zardari over his mother’s death.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that Pakistan wants to have good relations with its neighbouring countries, but its desire for peace should not be considered a weakness.

In his address at the passing out ceremony at the naval academy, the prime minister — who is on a day’s visit to Karachi — said the navy plays an important role in guarding the country’s maritime borders.

“...I am also proud of the Pakistan Army for making the defence impregnable,” he added.

The prime minister expressed happiness over witnessing women cadets in the passing out parade.

“You are a guiding light for all Pakistani women,” he said.

On his arrival in the city, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah received PM Shehbaz and later the premier inspected a guard of honour during the passing out parade at the naval academy.

Political meetings

The prime minister held a detailed meeting with CM Sindh to discuss the overall political and development situation in the province, sources said.

Apart from this, he also met with delegations from the PML-N and MQM-P.

The MQM-P delegation stressed the appointment of a governor and the implementation of the agreement that was made with the PPP when the then-opposition sought MQM-P’s support to oust the PTI government.

MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui led the delegation, while Federal Minister for Information and Technology Aminul Haque, and senior party leaders Wasim Akhtar and Kanwar Naveed Jameel were also part of it.

MQM-P complains to PM over non-implementation of agreement

After the meeting concluded, sources told Geo News that MQM-P complained to PM Shehbaz over non-implementation of the agreement the latter had signed with the PDM parties to topple the Imran Khan-led government.

Sources said that the MQM-P complained to the premier over PPP’s “slowness” in implementing of the agreement that had made with the PDM parties. It also expressed regret over the delay in the legislation that the MQM had demanded to be made on the Sindh local government law in light of the Supreme court decision.

On the other hand, PM Shehbaz assured the MQM-P that he will form a committee for the implementation of the agreement made with the Karachi-based party. He also assured the MQM-P that he will speak to the PPP, which is ruling in Sindh, over the implementation of the agreement.

The sources also told Geo News that the premier took the MQM-P into confidence over the decisions taken by the federal government on the economy.

PM condoles with Asif Ali Zardari

Later, the prime minister travelled to Nawabshah to offer condolences to PPP Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on the demise of the latter’s mother.