Sharif asks Brown to make US shun its drone attack policy

Islamabad, Apr 28 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif has urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to use his influence to make the US shun its policy of drone strikes in the Tribal Areas.

The appeal came at a meeting between Sharif and Brown who had called on the PML-N chief at Punjab House.

At the 40-minute meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on several issues of mutual interest.

Sharif said that the drone attacks were compounding anti-American sentiments in Pakistan, and such strikes would be counter-productive in the long run.

He said that the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis were opposed to extremism and militancy.

"The prevailing problems in Pakistan need to be seen in the context of the long years of military rule and denial to the people of their fundamental democratic rights," The Daily Times quoted Sharif, as saying.

He also called on the British official not to let the recent arrest and release of 'Pakistani students' in the UK affect relations between the two countries.

Sharif hoped that the cases of the students would be judged on merit rather than suspicion or speculations. (ANI)