Islamabad, July 4: Pakistan government and main opposition PML-N have agreed to stop the “blame game” over a wave of militant attacks in the country and develop a “joint national strategy” to tackle terrorism and extremism.
 The decision was made during a telephonic conversation late last night between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
 Gilani said he would convene a national conference soon to help prepare a joint strategy against the menace of terrorism that has plagued the country.
 The two leaders spoke soon after Sharif called on the government to hold negotiations with the Taliban who are willing to talk.
 Sharif claimed federal authorities were not sharing intelligence on militant groups with the government in Punjab, which is ruled by the PML-N.
 His brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, contended that Interior Minister Rehman Malik was trying to create divisions among provinces with his talk of “Punjabi terrorists” being behind recent attacks.
 Gilani stepped in to calm the situation and spoke to the PML-N chief. They agreed to develop a joint national strategy to curb terrorism and extremism.
 A statement issued by the Premier’s office said both leaders felt “collective wisdom is essential to tackle this national issue which is the biggest hurdle in the way of national development.”
 The leaders also agreed “that it was not the time for blame game, since the people of Pakistan are being deprived of peace, progress and prosperity,” the statement said.
 The country “cannot afford to bear the brunt of terrorist activities any more,” they said.
 Gilani accepted Sharif’s suggestion that the political leadership should be taken on board to forge national consensus on the national strategy against terrorism and said he would convene a conference soon to help prepare the strategy.
 The Premier told Sharif he would also discuss this proposal during a meeting he would chair tomorrow to review the security situation in the wake of the suicide attack on the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore.

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