22 November 2004	Monday	09 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Chief Whip in the National Assembly Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dreshak on Sunday termed the statement of Pakistan People's Party leaders on the prime minister's address to the nation a "reflection of their defeatist mind".

The PPP leadership had stated that the address of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the nation had no substance. The prime minister has announced a number of measures for the people's benefit, from making the law enforcement system more efficient and foolproof to ensuring equal justice to all and imparting education.

"The PPP leaders cannot deny that Pakistan's economy is in a far better condition than what it was in the corruption-ridden government of the PPP," he added. Mr Dreshak said the PPP leadership could not deny that this economic turnaround had been brought about by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's reforms which he had initiated as finance minister, a fact acknowledged by the world community.

The prime minister's economic growth rate target of above eight per cent is real as it stems from Pakistan's constant economic growth and improved economic indicators, he added.

"If the PPP is trying to overlook the reality of Pakistan's economic turnaround then it is only painting itself in a poor light and is doing so at the risk of losing its residual credibility," the chief whip said.

He said now that Mr Shaukat Aziz had managed to clear the economic mess created by Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif, the PPP was sharpening its teeth to go at Pakistan's healthy foreign exchange reserves. He warned the people to remain alert and foil the PPP's desperate bid to rob them again and consequently render them impoverished. -APP