Lahore, Oct 13 : Senior PML-N leader and former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan could not afford further turmoil (in the country) and that the government must resolve the issue of terrorism “through dialogue”.

He said, “the new government had “legitimized” some of the former government’s policies instead of reversing them”, and added that the prevalent crises in the country could have been resolved if President Asif Zardari had honoured his commitments with the PML-N.

Sharif said this while addressing a party gathering here last evening to mark October 12 as the ‘Defence of Democracy Day’ to condemn the PML-N’s ouster from government in 1999 coup.

Nawaz said former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf must be held answerable to the parliament for his ‘unconstitutional steps’. “The nation has to block the path of military dictatorship forever,” the Daily Times quoted him as saying.

He asked the new government to form national consensus policies instead of following those of the Musharraf regime, which, he blamed for “terrorism and unemployment”.

Pakistan was ‘holding the begging bowl’ because of the former regime’s policies, he said and added that it was a critical time of Pakistan, and the government must deliver. (ANI)