January 03, 2009	Saturday	Muharram 05, 1430

FAISALABAD, Jan 2: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said the people of the country are facing immense hardship because of the ill-conceived policies of the federal government which have caused severe shortages of gas and electricity and long hours of loadshedding.

Talking to journalists, industrialists, labour leaders and exporters at the residence of MNA Abid Sher Ali, he blamed the federal government’s failure to fulfil its responsibilities for the shortage of electricity and fuel and anarchy and terrorism.

He also said the sovereignty of the country had been endangered by foreign attacks on its territory.

He said the PML-N would requisition a session of the National Assembly to take up the issues of electricity and gas supply, petroleum prices, closure of industries and unemployment. He said the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali, had been asked to submit requisition for the session.

Mr Sharif said his party would support the government in solving the problems and bringing the situation under control.

He also expressed concern over surging fuel prices in the country at a time when international prices were declining.

Referring to the disorder witnessed by Faisalabad on Thursday, the former prime minister said he could not keep quiet over the ransacking of public and private property.

He asked businessmen and workers to come up with for solving their problems “only relating to the Punjab government”.

He said the issues of electricity and fuel shortage concerned the federal government.

He said he wondered why action was not being taken against former president Pervez Musharraf who was solely responsible for the present crisis.