The Nation: PAT claims Nawaz agreed on drone hits

ISLAMABAD - Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the leader of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a meeting held with US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of his meeting with President Obama had agreed to continue drone attacks.

He said that the government, however, would continue to make hue and cry about putting an end to drone strikes for face saving aimed at deceiving media and the people of Pakistan.

He said that the agreement was also reached between the PM and John Kerry to give information to the American Security Agency unilaterally without taking ISI into confidence. It was also agreed that Pakistan would purchase the American weapons worth billions of rupees, he said.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while addressing the executive council of PAT on Wednesday. He said that the agreements with Iran including that of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline would not be pursued vigorously; adding that the government would hold talks with the American-supported Taliban factions.

He further claimed that the PM in the meeting with John Kerry had also agreed to privatization of 15 state-owned enterprises. He said that Nawaz had assured the US Secretary of State that the policies would continue as per American wishes.