Shahbaz Sharif meets PM, seeks resumption of dialogue

Shahbaz Sharif meets PM, seeks resumption of dialogueNEW DELHI: Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and underscored the importance of resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue process and peaceful resolution of all issues.

Shahbaz also delivered a message of goodwill from his elder brother and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while emphasizing “Pakistan’s desire to forge friendly and cooperative relations with India, in the interest of peace and prosperity of the people of the two countries and of the region,” a Pakistan High Commission release said here.

Shahbaz Sharif is the No.2 in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and the meeting assumes significance given the disappointment expressed by Singh over the progress on agreed outcome of the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistani counterpart in New York in September.

Shahbaz was accompanied by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, Minister of State for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan and Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashood Khan and High Commissioner Salman Bashir during the meeting which was “cordial, constructive and forward looking”, the High Commission said.

The Chief Minister also underscored the importance of resumption of dialogue and peaceful resolution of all issues, it added.–PTI