NAWABSHAH/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said that his party would not become part of any non-democratic move to dislodge the ruling PML-N government.
“PPP is the founder of 1973 constitution … we will neither take any unconstitutional step nor will support any non-democratic move,” Zardari told a press conference in Nawabshah. “The constitution does not mention any technocrat government in country,” he maintained.
To a question, the PPP chief hoped that Senate elections will not be delayed. “I think that the elections for Upper House will be held on time,” he said. “I will contest election from Nawabshah if the party awards me a ticket,” Zardari said in response to a question about himself contesting the election.
On alliance with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri, Zardari said his party will join the protest announced by the former, demanding resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah must step down in the wake of a minor’s death in Kasur as they had failed to keep law and order in the province.
“If a deputy superintended of police can be suspended for the death of a peacock in Jati Umra, some big head must also roll in this case too,” he maintained, adding that everybody knows that a chief minister is always responsible for the entire province.
On Kasur incident, Shah said it was not the first such incident to occur in Punjab. “It only got highlighted while the previous incidents were not properly looked into by the Punjab government,” he said, adding that the same issue had been raised in parliament again and again. “If one looks at police performance and court response on law and order situation in provinces, Punjab’s situation is the worst,” he said. The PPP lawmaker said that the incident highlighted the incompetence of the Punjab government and the local administration. He said the culprits involved in the incident should immediately be arrested and punished. “If they are not penalised as soon as possible, the frequency of such incidents will soar,” he feared.
Reacting to comments made by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif against the judiciary and security institutions, Shah said that Sharif wanted to destroy the credibility of state institutions, adding that his actual purpose was something other than what he was saying in the public addresses. “His aggressive attitude will only create chaos in the country … this is very dangerous trend,” Shah maintained.
He said that Nawaz Sharif’s main aim to weaken the state institutions. “This is not an encouraging sign as it will allow everyone to stand up and tarnish the image of institutions,” he stated.
Published in Daily Times, January 12th 2018.
