Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is “repeating the politics of 1990s”.

“We accepted the results of 2013 general elections for the sake of democracy, although those elections were returning officers’ elections. The decisions just announced by the tribunals have proved our point that the PML-N received outside help and was made to win the elections,” Zardari said in a statement issued from London. He said that at a time when innocent citizens are being killed by the enemy (India) in indiscriminate bombings in border villages; when Pakistan Army is fighting a decisive war against the terrorists and also fighting at our borders, Mian Nawaz Sharif, instead of challenging the real enemy, is targeting Pakistan People’s Party and his other political opponents.

The former president said that the steps being taken by the government clearly indicate that it is dividing the nation in an attempt to save its natural allies Taliban and the terrorists, and weaken the war against terror. Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan People’s Party stands with the army in the war against terrorism. “We salute our jawans who gave ultimate sacrifice in this war.” He noted that first Qasim Zia and son of Senator Bangash were arrested and now Dr Asim Hussain has been arrested. Immediately after that warrants have been issued for the arrest of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Amin Fahim who, he said, is ill.

“Bureaucrats in Sindh are being harassed by the FIA and NAB. The chief secretary of Sindh is on bail. All this unmistakably presents a clear pattern of political harassment and revenge,” Zardari said, adding that by doing so Sindh has been immobilised under the direct orders from Prime Minister’s House. The former president also said that in Punjab a video had surfaced in which provincial minister Rana Mushhood was seen receiving money allegedlfy on behalf of Mian brothers, but he has not yet been arrested.

“Pakistan People’s Party is a party of fearless followers who cannot be defeated by the threat of executions, lashing or imprisonment. It seems that Nawaz Sharif has not learnt any lessons from the past. We are not the ones who fled to Jeddah after seeking pardon. The nation knows very well that the ‘honor’ of applying for pardon by any politician in the country only belongs to Mian Nawaz Sharif,” Zardari stated. “Today Nawaz Sharif is the prime minister of the country and Shahbaz Sharif the chief minister of Punjab only because of PPP,” Zardari asserted while adding that it was PPP which lifted the ban on becoming prime minister or chief minister for the third time, “although it was evident to us that it will only serve the interests of Mian brothers”.