F.P. Report
KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that he does not trust former premier Nawaz Sharif.
Talking to a private TV channel on Saturday he said the PPP demonstrated enough tolerance for the sake of democracy in the state, adding, “Our fault is only this that we talk of democracy.”
“Individuals from Jati Umra never won elections, they manoeuvre elections,” he said, in a clear reference to the Sharifs. “Nawaz quit democracy and instead became a monarch.”
The former president said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had agreed on his departure during the days of [Islamabad] sit-ins, but we supported him for the sake of democracy.
He recalled that Dr Asim Hussain never evaded income tax, but cases were made against the former petroleum minister.
The PPP co-chairman said that he no longer trusts Nawaz Sharif. He noted the example of Maulana Fazlur Rahman whom he said was currently a political rival, but the chief of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) stands firm on what he says.
“This is why he is trusted,” he added. “Nawaz did injustice to democratic forces and the Parliament.”
Asked about next elections, Zardari said polls would be held on time, and that he hoped for free and fair elections in the country.
He said that higher number of independent candidates would contest the next elections, and his party could form an alliance with them.
The former president said the 18th amendment of the Constitution was an achievement of the PPP and Raza Rabbani only drafted it. He, however, denied that he was angry with Rabbani.
Speaking of the Senate chairman, the PPP co-chairman said that it was their decision to get Sadiq Sanjrani elected as the Senate chief and he hoped that Sanjrani would stand by them.
Questioned that how did Imran managed to gain a Senate seat from Punjab, despite not having enough votes, he said he was glad that Imran secured a Senate seat from Punjab.
Commenting on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Zardari said some internal and external forces had been involved in that with Pervez Musharraf.
“Baitullah Mehsud and Pervez Musharraf had not been in direct contact,” he said. “Mehsud did his job and Musharraf did his.”
Regarding former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the PPP co-chairman said he had his own agenda, and he already said that he is a “political chief” and would form his own party.
About the incumbent chief justice, he said Justice Saqib Nisar had been trying to do good.
