LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, hitherto a supporter of talks with the Taliban, appeared to have run out of patience after recent militant attacks on security forces and said on Wednesday that an operation could be launched against terrorists.

“Even the prime minister had talked of the talks. But how could a dialogue be held keeping in view happenings of the past seven days in which even polio workers have been shot dead,” the prime minister’s younger brother said at a press conference held to brief the media about up to $10 billion investment expected in Punjab in next three years in coal-fired power plants.

“Water has risen above [our] heads. Now the whole nation shall have to come on the same page for tackling the issue.”

Asked how his government could expect such a whopping investment when the country was passing through a critical phase of law and order, the chief minister admitted that “the country is in a war phase” and no development could be expected without peace.

“The whole nation shall have to take a unanimous decision and none should now say things like opening office of the Taliban.”

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan had suggested a couple of months ago that the Taliban should be allowed to open an office in the country.

Asked what the government was doing for building consensus against militancy, the chief minister said the country was facing two

big problems – electricity shortage and extremism. With the solution of the energy crisis the economy would flourish which would help reduce extremism, he added.