PM says Shiva Sena attacks 'regrettable'

LONDON: Reaching London prior to his US visit, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the attack by the Shiv Sena on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan in Mumbai is "sad and regrettable" and should have never happened.

Talking to newsmen outside his residence in London, PM Nawaz said that recently Indian intellectuals had returned their honours and medals to the government as a way of protest over the rising tide of Hindu religious extremism.

He further said the evidence of Indian involvement in creating disturbance in Pakistan has been handed over to the United Nations Secretary General.

The prime minister vowed to defend the national interests of Pakistan in his upcoming meetings with the US leadership.

The PM added that that Pakistan’s position on nuclear weapons will not be compromised under any circumstances.

He also expressed the confidence that his visit would help promote relations with the United States in different areas.

Replying to a question about rigging charges by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the PM said he signed a Charter of Democracy with Benazir Bhutto to lay foundations of mature politics and that alleging rigging every now and then by PTI is nothing but political immaturity.

He pointed out that PTI first levelled allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections but these were proved wrong by the Judicial Commission.

“PTI again raised questions about NA-122 but it not only lost the by-elections in the same constituency but also the security deposit of its candidate was confiscated in Okara.”

To another question, PM Nawaz expressed the confidence that load-shedding would be over before the next elections in 2018.