Usama Hussain Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Sixty-five years after achieving independence, Pakistan is a nation on the brink. The problems it faces are manifold; an economy in dire straits, a massive energy crisis, rising sectarian violence and political infighting. Yet, perhaps the biggest challenge the country faces is the US-led drone war that questions its sovereignty and further fans the flames of instability. As the current PPP-led coalition government's five-year term comes to an end, Pakistanis prepare to head to the polls — provisionally set to take place in April — and as with previous elections, fierce political jockeying is taking place between the country's two major political parties, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N). One man aspiring to lead the country is Nawaz Sharif, leader of PML (N), who served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister until he was ousted in a 1999 military coup by former president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. After spending a few years in exile in the Kingdom, he returned to Pakistan in 2007. Sharif spoke candidly about his views on the current government and his vision for the future of his country at an invitation-only gathering of Pakistani journalists at his residence in Jeddah, Thursday. “They (PPP) have no concept of development nor do they understand economics. They haven't done anything in four and half years, haven't solved the electricity problem, so what will they do in the remaining six months?” asked Sharif. “Look at where the country is today: Our country is being attacked, our sovereignty is under attack with full government blessing. Drones take off from our land and land on us. The current government hasn't been able to solve anything,” added Sharif, referring to Pakistan's controversial and hugely unpopular cooperation with the United States in the war on terror. Commonly referred to as America's war on terror in the Pakistani press, the war has been blamed for a surge in sectarian violence in the country. Earlier this week, 22 Shiites were gunned down in the country's north and on the same day, heavily armed militants attacked the Minhas air base,75 km north of the capital Islamabad, in a brazen pre-dawn assault. Sharif blamed policies by Gen. Musharraf and the current PPP government for the country's deteriorating situation. “Government inaction is responsible for sectarianism. The Supreme Court has named militant wings of parties, so why haven't they denounced them? Parties must act to distance themselves from extremism. We need to put an end to ethnic politics. The PML (N) is struggling to assimilate nationalist parties and rise above ethnic issues,” he said. Pakistani politicians have long been plagued by accusations of widespread corruption, mismanagement, inefficiency and cronyism. One person who many Pakistanis have turned to for political salvation is cricket hero-turned-politician, Imran Khan. Despite his widespread popularity, Sharif dismissed Khan as someone who has a lot of rhetoric but few practical solutions. “My track record speaks for itself. We have practical solutions and our agenda is economics. We have the best economic team that can take the country forward,” Sharif said.
