By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan would not advance through “magic or shortcuts”, arguing that only hard work and national unity could steer the country towards lasting stability and growth.
Addressing the National Ulema Convention in Islamabad, Sharif warned that Pakistan could not progress while political and social divisions continued to deepen. “If we ridicule the sacrifices of our armed forces, then who will honor Pakistan?” he asked. “This country will not develop through spells or superstition; it will only move forward through effort.”
Sharif praised the military’s recent battlefield performance, saying Pakistan’s forces had fought “with courage and resolve” under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir. He said their actions had delivered a “humiliating defeat” to the enemy, crediting both the public’s prayers and the dedication of each soldier engaged in what he called the “battle for truth”.
The prime minister also urged an end to sectarian divisions, noting that intolerance within religious schools of thought continued to damage social cohesion. “Even today, some people say they cannot pray behind another Muslim in a different mosque. How can a country progress without unity?” he said.
Sharif insisted Pakistan’s economy was now “moving rapidly in the right direction”, saying coordinated decisions by the political and military leadership had averted the threat of national bankruptcy.
However, he cautioned that extremist violence remained a serious challenge, noting that “innocent Pakistanis are being martyred” in attacks carried out by militant factions he described as Khawarij. He concluded by calling for a renewed national commitment to collective effort, discipline and unity, saying these were the only durable pathways to development.
