'N' decides to end friendly Opp role

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) on Tuesday decided to stop playing role of a friendly Opposition and evolve a strategy to give tough time to the ruling PPP over its failure in evolving a transparent mechanism for rehabilitation of the flood-hit masses.
These decisions were taken during an important consu-ltative meeting of the party chaired by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif that was attended by all the central leaders, MNAs and Senators here at the Punjab House.
The meeting reviewed the recent floods in the country, scale of devastation and the Federal Government’s response to the national disaster.

The meeting deplored that the apathy of the Government in addressing the problems of the flood-affectees and its failure in paying cash compensations to those willing to return to their flood-ravaged residential localities before the forth-coming Eid.
Insiders informed TheNation that the party Quaid Nawaz Sharif also apprised the party colleagues of the Government’s failure in paying Rs 20,000 cash compensation per family despite the fact there was plenty of money received from the US and other countries of the world.

Sources were of the view that Nawaz Sharif vented his anger over the Government’s apathy after his meeting with visiting US envoy Brain D Hunt, who had apprised him of the money US government had paid to the Federal Government so far for flood relief work.
Sources further said that Nawaz Sharif also rejected the resignation of MNA Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and directed him to participate in the coming session.

Sardar Mehtab Abbasi had rendered his resignation by having reservations over the name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and he favoured the estab-lishment of Hazara province.
Sardar Mehtab Abbasi assured his party leader that he would do his utmost in highlighting the party’s stance on the floor of the

National Assembly scheduled to meet from 2nd September on the requisition of the PML-N to discuss the topical national issues.
Earlier, in another meeting with MPs from Chakwal district, Nawaz discussed about awarding the party ticket for NA-61 Chakwal-11 which fell vacant after the resignation of the PML-N MNA Faiz Muhammad Tamman.

18 ministers tender resignations

ISLAMABAD: A political crisis triggered by the tabling of a no-confidence motion against the prime minister of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) intensified on Sunday after 18 ministers tendered resignations to AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider.

Separately, Haider moved to announce the formation of Nawaz League just after the return of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.

Earlier, the general council of the Muslim Conference, which met in Islamabad at the Kashmir House, empowered Haider to take “any decision he deems appropriate, including the formation of PML-N”. Online news agency quoted Haider as saying that although he had powers to dissolve the AJK assembly, he had not used them. “If the (no-confidence) motion succeeds, I will walk (my way) home,” the AJK prime minister said, adding that interference in Azad Kashmir had intensified. He also said that he would start his new political career in “consultation with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif”.

According to Haider, federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has acknowledged he was “doing well” while Minister for Water and Power Raja Parvez Ashraf had also termed him adequate.

Meanwhile, Kaira has termed Farooq Haider’s allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari unfounded and baseless. According to media reports, the federal minister said that Haider had initiated the campaign against the president without “any provocation in a bid to gain cheap popularity, which he had lost because of his wrong policies in Azad Kashmir”.

APP quoted Kaira as saying that the AJK premier “just wants to hide his incompetence.” Accusing Haider of not governing Azad Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of the masses, Kaira said that the PPP government should not be held responsible for the dissolution of AJK government. “There is nothing illegal about the involvement of the federal government in AJK affairs.”

At the Kashmir House, Haider accused Sardar Atiq to be the one who had “killed Muslim Conference” and said that members of his faction were not ready to go along with him. “I will not allow corruption in the assembly nor will I allow anyone from Muzaffarabad to devour Mirpur’s rights.”

Blaming Atiq for continually “disturbing the region’s political atmosphere”, Haider praised Shahbaz Sharif and the entire PML-N leadership for providing support.

The meeting was also addressed by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, Minister for Local Bodies Raja Naseer, Minister for Forestry Sardar Naeem, Food Minister Shaukat Ali Shah, Finance Minister Raja Nisar Ahmad, Agriculture Minister Maj (retd) Mansaf Dad, former minister Sardar Tahir Anwar, Chairman of the Implementation Commission Sardar Altaf and president of the AJK Supreme Court Bar Association Mirza Zafar.

Participants were, however, stopped from raising slogans against the leadership of Sardar Atiq by the AJK prime minister and the ministers.

During the meeting, it was decided to set up the PML-N chapter in the region immediately “to get rid of betrayers and disloyal elements”. The participants also viewed the no-confidence motion as “a move to stab the Muslim Conference in the back”.

According to a press statement issued by the Kashmir House, Nawaz Sharif has decided to reach Islamabad directly from Duabi on Monday, July 26.

The voting on the no-confidence motion is likely to be held on the same day.

The new power play

NRO has served its purpose as conceived. PPP, the main beneficiary, is now trying to consign it to the archives of a bygone age. It says there is no use beating a dead horse. But the Supreme Court verdict stands in the way. All kinds of contrivances are being resorted to in order to abort the effect of that verdict. The emerging reality in national polity appears to favour the PPP position. The shape that reality is taking is PPP-military alliance for governance. PPP is the facade, the military holds the strings. When Mr Zardari therefore asserts that no opposition can dislodge the present PPP dispensation, he has solid ground to say that.

On the other hand, the Brothers Corporation which goes by the name of PML (N) is out of the loop. It is being cornered constantly. The sudden outburst of a maligning campaign against the Punjab Government is not without sponsorship and purpose. Regrettably, Nawaz Sharif, twice failed to judge the military psyche, once when he showed the door to General Karamat, and again, when he failed to read the signal of a guard of honour given to General Musharraf on his departure. General Yahya lost half of Pakistan, while boozing and merry-making, but when he died, he was buried with full military honours by none else than the self-proclaimed Mard-e-Momin. Not only the PPP but also ANP is in the loop after Asfandyar Wali’s ‘fruitful’ visit to Washington early last year. MQM is also in the bag. Altaf Bhai is basking in the British sunshine. Nawaz Sharif was tricked into many missteps both by Zardari and his own flawed reading of the new realities. His decision to support the change of NWFP’s name to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cost him his strongest constituency of Hazara, whose vote in favour of joining Pakistan was the deciding factor in’ the historic referendum at the time of independence. His nomination of his son-in-law’s younger brother as PML(N) candidate in Mansehra resulted in a defeat at an awkward moment.

Instead of looking at the political scenario from an ivory tower of his own making, he should have realised that given his past track record, the military would be wary of a smooth working equation with him. He should also have known, the proverbial vengefulness of the elephant. US did not spare Bhutto for his nuclear ambitions. How could it overlook Nawaz’s defiance in detonating the bomb. His latest pleadings to the Prime Minister, which he readily accepted, to convene an all-parties conference to chalk out a comprehensive plan of action against ‘terrorism’ is being seen as an effort to remain relevant in the new power play. Terrorism is essentially the result of the quite thinly-disguised Judo-Christian crusade against Muslims all over the world together with the urge to grab their “abundant energy and other key resources for their exclusive access and exploitation.As a fellow-traveller when India, for instance, brands resistance fighters against its occupation in Kashmir as terrorists, the West may readily chime in to promote its own agenda but can we in Pakistan join the chorus. For us they are freedom fighters. Nawaz Sharif therefore fumbled again in picking up the fight against ‘terrorism’ as his first priority. He ignored the wide divergence of views held by the people about what they regard as ‘terrorism’ and whom they consider as ‘terrorists’. Voices were raised in massive rallies of protest against the Data Durbar tragedy throughout Pakistan that the hands behind it are of those who are bent on fanning sectarian conflict.

Again, when Nawaz Sharif rightly castigated the dastardly attack on Ahmadi places of worship, resulting in a heavy loss of innocent lives, his incautious choice of words in calling them ‘brothers’ was politically naive and made him an easy target of those religious elements who thrive on hatred of Ahmadis. He could have avoided that without diluting his condemnation of the crime. Now look at the other end of the spectrum. It is PPP’s political culture not to tolerate a political rival of consequence. Didn’t Bhutto constantly conspire against the opposition governments in NWFP and Balochistan and ultimately dismissed them. Didn’t he then follow it up with ordering military action in Balochistan? The genii he unleashed ultimately devoured him. There is a lesson in this for the present PPP outfit, which is a pygmy version of ZAB ‘s. Does the PPP think that with military’s pat on its back, it can rule as “master of all that I survey”: loot’ grab and squander or that it can not only defy the judiciary but campaign to bring down the judicial edifice and get away unscathed. It is PPP’s penchant for cantankerous politics that has further eroded the standing of the civilian component in national polity.

What is needed is a radical reassessment and reorientation of national polity — an agreement on an institutional working equation between the civilians and the military in governance. Repeated military interventions and willing civilian collaboration have established new ground realities. Unless these are recognised and necessary power adjustments made avowedly, the national polity will continue to be in doldrums as at present. On its parts, the military has to get down from the high horse and realise that it is not sophisticated hardware that ensures security but a contented people. We should have learnt that lesson for good after the 1971 national tragedy.

PML-N plans to increase pressure on PPP

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has decided to seek ways and means for putting pressure on the PPP-led government on the fake degrees issue.

Seeing the PPP in panic, the PML-N suspects that efforts are afoot to conceal a `wrong’. For the purpose, a meeting of PML-N elders is being scheduled after the return of party chief Nawaz Sharif from London by the weekend.

“Yes, we are planning to hold a consultative meeting of senior party leaders to take stock of the overall political situation, fake degrees and the security conference (that had been proposed by Nawaz Sharif two weeks ago),” PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told Dawn on Monday.

The consultation would be held after the party chief’s return within four days, he added.

The fake degrees issue will provide the PML-N with a chance to repulse some of the pressure it has been facing from the PPP for the past couple of months as well as further eroding moral grounds its political rival is standing on.

“Common sense says there is something wrong because of which they (the PPP) have gone so much panicky,” said Ahsan when asked if the PML-N had done any calculations on fake degrees of parliamentarians from Sindh, the power base of the PPP.

“The way they are exerting pressure on Higher Education Commission Chairman Javed Leghari by arresting his brother Farooq Leghari in different cases shows that the PPP government wants to influence and delay the process of verification of degrees to conceal the facts.”

The PML-N on Sunday issued a statement on behalf of Nawaz Sharif condemning the government for allegedly victimising the HEC chairman.

SECURITY MOOT
As the PML-N is anxiously awaiting response on the anti-terror national conference proposed by its chief a couple of weeks ago, the PPP-led federal government seems to be in no hurry and has put the issue on the back burner as no preparations in this regard are being reported from any quarter.

In the wake of suicide attack on Hazrat Ali Hajveri’s shrine in Lahore, Nawaz had on July 3 suggested the government convene an all-party conference also inviting people from civil society, media and other walks of life to hammer out a unanimous strategy against terrorism.

Within hours, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani phoned the PML-N leader accepting his proposal, hinting at convening the moot in a week.

Nawaz then, through a letter, advised Gilani some steps before holding the security conference.

These included getting feedback from intelligence and security forces, asking all stakeholders to do homework before coming to the moot, evolving a plan of action beforehand and not devising a policy that was not going to be implemented.

Asked if the party would host the security moot, as hinted at by Nawaz while tabling the proposal, in case the government did not go for it, Ahsan said although they were ready to play the host, the federal government was in better position in this regard for it had the critical intelligence input required for framing a counter-strategy.

All attempts to contact federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and PPP information secretary Fauzia Wahab to seek their comments failed.

PML-N Punjab strongly opposes Nawaz Sharif’s decision to oust Mastikhel from party

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary party of PML-N Punjab Chapter has expressed its strong opposition to recent directives of PML-N head, Mian Nawaz Sharif regarding ousting of Sanaullah Mastikhel from Party ranks.

The MPA from Punjab was penalized for initiating a resolution against media in the Punjab assembly, and Mian Nawaz Sharif had issued his directives to oust the MPA, during a press conference in London and afterwards in telephonic directives passed on to Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

Many senior leaders and party members have expressed their utter astonishment, reservations, and concerns over this directive of ousting Sanaullah Mastikhel, and have even threatened to resign en masse if these directives were ever carried out.

Mian Sahbaz Sharif, while conveying the feelings and decision of party members /leadership to Mian Nawaz Sharif, has requested grace time for an enquiry being carried out by party’s disciplinary committee probing the MPA’s issue.

When contacted the PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal informed Online that party had constituted a disciplinary party to probe the issue, which was formulating its report.

It was also clarified that when Mian Nawaz Sharif issued his directives, he was under the wrong impression that the MPA had passed the anti-media resolution in his personal capacity; however a closer probe has revealed that 17 other MPAs were also signatories to this resolution, making it a personalized group, and not a party decision.

Pakistan court issues notices to Sharif brothers for bank loan defaults

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has begun a move to try and save the membership of its provincial legislator Sanaullah Mastikhel, the MPA responsible for moving the ‘anti-media resolution’ in the Punjab Assembly on Friday.

Sources in the party told Daily Times on Wednesday a three-member committee had sent its investigative report regarding the “act” of Sanaullah Mastikhel to party chief Nawaz Sharif.

The sources said the committee had requested Nawaz to review his decision to expel Mastikhel from the part, as he was only one of 18 members who had prepared the resolution against the media in the Punjab Assembly’s Committee Room.

The committee was constituted by Nawaz Sharif to probe the matter of the resolution presented by Mastikhel against the media. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and Senior Adviser to the CM Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa are members of the aforementioned committee. The sources told Daily Times that the committee had sent its comprehensive report on the issue to the party chief after completing its investigations, and had requested him not to sack Mastikhel “because he was not alone in moving the resolution in the House”.

The report claimed that Mastikhel had been supported by 17 other legislators from different parties including the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the MMA, the sources said, adding that the committee had strongly suggested that they did not recommend that Mastikhel be expelled from the party or the Punjab Assembly because such an action was not “justified”.

There have been reports that the resolution had been drawn up a day before it was presented and passed in the House. According to sources, a special meeting was held at the Punjab Assembly’s Committee Room-A at 10am on July 8 with the agenda set on the media coverage of the fake degrees of parliamentarians.

The meeting was attended by PML-N members Chaudhry Waheed, Sanaullah Mastikhel, Amir Saeed Ansar, Rahila Khadim Hussain, Naveed Anjum, Col Shuja and Shams Hyder, PPP members Muhammed Abbas, Nargis Faiz Malik, Amna Buttar and Zulfiqar Gondal, PML-Q dissident group members Sheikh Alauddin, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, Ijaz Shafi and Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, MMA legislator Ali Hyder Noor Niazi and PML-Q members Samina Khawer Hayyat and Seemal Kamran.

Also on Wednesday, while talking in the Punjab Assembly on the resolution, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the government had no plans of imposing curbs on the media, as it was the fourth pillar of the state. Appreciating the “pro-media resolution” passed a day before, he said the resolution would end the “misunderstandings” between the media and the government.

Pakistan court issues notices to Sharif brothers for bank loan defaults

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has begun a move to try and save the membership of its provincial legislator Sanaullah Mastikhel, the MPA responsible for moving the ‘anti-media resolution’ in the Punjab Assembly on Friday.

Sources in the party told Daily Times on Wednesday a three-member committee had sent its investigative report regarding the “act” of Sanaullah Mastikhel to party chief Nawaz Sharif.

The sources said the committee had requested Nawaz to review his decision to expel Mastikhel from the part, as he was only one of 18 members who had prepared the resolution against the media in the Punjab Assembly’s Committee Room.

The committee was constituted by Nawaz Sharif to probe the matter of the resolution presented by Mastikhel against the media. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and Senior Adviser to the CM Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa are members of the aforementioned committee. The sources told Daily Times that the committee had sent its comprehensive report on the issue to the party chief after completing its investigations, and had requested him not to sack Mastikhel “because he was not alone in moving the resolution in the House”.

The report claimed that Mastikhel had been supported by 17 other legislators from different parties including the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the MMA, the sources said, adding that the committee had strongly suggested that they did not recommend that Mastikhel be expelled from the party or the Punjab Assembly because such an action was not “justified”.

There have been reports that the resolution had been drawn up a day before it was presented and passed in the House. According to sources, a special meeting was held at the Punjab Assembly’s Committee Room-A at 10am on July 8 with the agenda set on the media coverage of the fake degrees of parliamentarians.

The meeting was attended by PML-N members Chaudhry Waheed, Sanaullah Mastikhel, Amir Saeed Ansar, Rahila Khadim Hussain, Naveed Anjum, Col Shuja and Shams Hyder, PPP members Muhammed Abbas, Nargis Faiz Malik, Amna Buttar and Zulfiqar Gondal, PML-Q dissident group members Sheikh Alauddin, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, Ijaz Shafi and Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, MMA legislator Ali Hyder Noor Niazi and PML-Q members Samina Khawer Hayyat and Seemal Kamran.

Also on Wednesday, while talking in the Punjab Assembly on the resolution, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the government had no plans of imposing curbs on the media, as it was the fourth pillar of the state. Appreciating the “pro-media resolution” passed a day before, he said the resolution would end the “misunderstandings” between the media and the government.

Nawaz cheating the nation: Baba

LAHORE: Law Minister Dr Babar Awan has said that PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif is deceiving the nation now by making Sanaullah Mastikhel a scapegoat after passing resolution against the media.

He also stressed the PML-N Quaid to name the real player behind the entire episode against the media rather than shifting the responsibility on a party MPA.Talking to the mediapersons at the Lahore Airport Sunday, the federal minister said the party, which had been blowing the trumpet of clash between the government and institutions, had itself adopted the path of confrontation against media.

He said tolerance level of the “princes of Lahore” had been exposed in this recent incident.Commenting on the PML-N Quaid’s decision to seek resignation from Sanaullah Mastikhel, the PML-N MPA, who moved resolution against the media, Babar Awan said Nawaz Sharif had tried to hoodwink the nation, without realising that camera eye had shown the real picture.

Babar said it was on record and camera was watching the entire proceedings as to who had suspended the rules of business, who announced its adaptation, who changed the agenda and eventually passed the resolution against the media.

He said Mian Sahib should come up with the real person who tried to play trick with the nation rather than making his one MPA a scapegoat. The minister said one must not think of imposing restrictions on the media and making any effort against freedom of expression in democracy. He said there was no provision to withdraw resolution; however, definitely there could be some way out. He said they wanted that media should work with more freedom.

To a query about massive disqualifications of parliamentarians as a result of fake degrees, Babar said it wasn’t going to affect the democratic system, and there would be no mid-term polls even if a large number of MPs were disqualified.

To a question about release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, Babar said he had given in writing a piece of advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an appeal or use federal sources to look for ways for Dr Aafia’s release or a request for handing her over to Pakistan.

APP adds: The law minister said that the absconder of Sindh should be given a chance of appearance before the court so that he could be tried there. He said if there was any ground for transfer of the case and law was enacted, then cases of President Asif Zardari and his father would have to be transferred (to Sindh). He said Farooq Sattar was tried in Sindh, and he faced it. He reiterated that all PPP leadership is present before today’s courts.

Later, addressing a meeting of women lawyers at the Governor’s House, he said the PPP could not ignore 51 percent of the population which were women. He said the government had launched the largest scheme in the world for the betterment of women in the form of Benazir Income Support Programme, which was supported and appreciated by the World Bank and other organisations of the globe. He said there was no party which had given women due status in the society other than the PPP as it was the PPP that had nominated Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan as first woman governor in Sindh, first lady SHO and first lady attorney general was also appointed during the rule of the PPP.

Nawaz calls for US participation in APC

ISLAMABAD, (SANA): Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz has said that US will have to be made part of All Parties’ Conference (APC) to eradicate the menace of terrorism once for all.

He said this while talking to a private TV channel, and said that that President Asif Ali Zardari was the mastermind behind many conspiracies including declaring me ineligible, toppling Shahbaz’s government by imposing Governor Rule.

He went on to say that President Zardari was not in the favour of judges’ reinstatement.

In an interview, Nawaz said Zardari had good intentions in beginning, but it got worse with the passage of time.

He said that no doubt he had political differences with Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, but no personal grudges with her.

He admitted that he made a grave mistake by designating General Pervaiz Musharraf as a Chief of Army Staff.

He also disclosed that approximately 3 trillion rupees are going to dog in terms of corruption.

Musharraf prepares to storm Pakistan politics

Former president and ex-chief of Pakistan Army Pervez Musharraf has secured himself a launchpad for his return to the country from his exile in London a political party which is founded with the desire of bringing about "a great change". "We are happy. There is still a lot of work to do, but we have
the concept, the objectives and the will," asserted retired General Rashid Qureshi, who was the military and presidential spokesperson for Musharraf and is now one of the "masterminds" behind the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

The APML emulates the name of the historical Muslim party that played a decisive role in the independence of Pakistan in 1947, after decades of struggle for freedom from the dominion of British Empire.

The official launch of the party took place quietly in the southern metropolis of Karachi in June where its leaders announced that the party wants to be for "all Pakistanis" without distinction of religion, ethnicity or social class.

"The people of Pakistan are tired of the government's incompetence. It is time for a great change," Qureshi told EFE, and affirmed that the party "has already been registered" and hopes to establish headquarters in all the big cities and provincial councils.

According to a party source, the party has organised various events in other important places of Pakistan like Lahore and the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, since its launch in Karachi.

Some of its leaders are currently in Dubai to meet Musharraf and design a strategy for the new formation.

The source also revealed that this month there could be a launch of the party in London, but added that the final decision is yet to be taken and that it depends on the political situation in Pakistan.

The most notable thing about the new party is that its existence might be the preamble to the come back to the country of retired General Musharraf, who according to Qureshi "would return soon" to Pakistan to head the organisation and to contest the next elections.

"The date (of the return) is not yet decided. We keep informing him of the situation here. When he returns we'll tell the people in advance," said the spokesperson, who added that the APML "is working to guarantee his security".

After nearly nine years in power, which he gained following a bloodless coup d'état, Musharraf found himself forced to give up the presidency of Pakistan in August 2008 to avoid the process of impeachment against him by parliament.

The former president stayed in the country for a while away from the front line but found himself hounded by a number of his old enemies among the political groups, the judiciary and civil society on account of his past manoeuvres when in power.

This made him leave Pakistan and go for pilgrimage to Makkah, and later serve as speaker at various conferences in the Middle East, Europe and the US, till he settled down in Britain.

Sources from different parties including the one that supported his mandate, the Muslim League-Q, showed their concern on whether the former general would dare to return in the present circumstances; while Musharraf has already announced that he would contest in the "next elections".

In a recent video-conference, complete with a Pakistani flag, a bunch of red flowers, a thick book about Michelangelo and a collection of Mozart discs, he announced his decision to return to politics and was confident of obtaining the nation's support.

His hope comes from the renewed rage that he has awakened through internet: his virtual page on Facebook, for example, has a significant figure of 218,071 followers, and that of the APML has added more than 1,500 in a few days.

"You are actually a real leader. We need you here," writes an internet user in support of his return, among other comments.

Not very pleased with the prospect, the influential Pakistani daily "Dawn" expressed its doubts in a recent editorial whether "the self-proclaimed conquest of cyber-space really coincides with the reality" of an underdeveloped country.

"Musharraf has to be prepared to face possible judicial charges against him if he returns to Pakistan," said the newspaper.

A Western diplomatic source described it as being a "positive" thing that a new political party led by Musharraf has been founded in a country which, after all, is considered a democracy.

"Obviously it is very likely that he would become de facto president and (his figure) represents a rupture in the democratic system, which has experienced frequent alterations in Pakistan," said the source.

Spokesperson Qureshi admitted that some parties are hostile to Musharraf despite not being able to present "solid" accusations, and defended that the former general "is even more popular with the lower classes".

Rule of law must for progress: Nawaz

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif has said that he is not annoyed, but regrets the treatment that was meted out to him during the dictatorship. In an interview with a private TV channel, he recalled his confinement in the Attock Jail. “Once an Army major came and informed me in a mysterious manner that he had joined as the superintendent and was tasked with taking care of me. “At that moment, I recalled the episode of my arrest from the Prime Minister’s House. The troops that came had guns directed at me and gave the impression that they could open fire any moment. “The same night three generals came to me to get a piece of paper signed that I refused. The attitude of Gen Mehmood was the worst, but I challenged them to get the paper signed if they could,” Nawaz said, adding he regretted the threat he faced in Attock. “I had asked them what they desired from me. I refused to listen to the language they were using against me and told them that they could throw me in the river.” Nawaz was sure that such a behaviour could not have been meted out in the colonial era. To a question, he said the paper that they wanted to get signed was his resignation as the prime minister and dissolution of the National Assembly under certain articles of the Constitution. At that stage, they were enraged and threatened me of dire consequences. But I replied that it could only happen over my dead body. Then they threw the paper on the table and started requesting me and after repeated refusals, they again became violent. He said Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had not signed a similar paper. “People came out on the streets to restore the chief justice but no one came for me.” Nawaz Sharif said he was not aware about his release, but one morning a representative of the Saudi king came along with Hariri, who is currently the prime minister of Lebanon, and “told me that they were there to take me away as desired by King Abdullah. They informed me that they had already met my parents and that my entire family was in favour of my accompanying them as King Abdullah had called me.” He disclosed that by that time, many Pakistan Muslim League leaders, including Sheikh Rashid, Pervaiz Elahi, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Ejazul Haq, had not only betrayed him but had also captured the party office and burned their pictures. “That happened when I was in the Attock Jail and the takeover was carried out under the protection of the ISI and the MI.” Nawaz Sharif went on to explain that the period of dictatorship was more than that of democracy in the country. “I took over as the Punjab chief minister after participating in the 1985 non-party elections,” he said, adding there had been democracy in India but in Pakistan there was a mixture of democracy and dictatorship. “Those who imposed the military rule and those whoi supported it had committed great mistakes. With the passage of time, it was realised that we must get rid of the martial law.” He was full of praises for Gen Karamat but said that one of his statements was against the national interests. At times, difference of perceptions had developed with Gen Aslam Beg but he used to appreciate the crux of the matter. The appointment of the Rawalpindi corps commander by the prime minister was a tradition eversince the Junejo period and Aslam Beg had also asked me to do so. I had appreciated that gesture but I also disliked some of his statements. Without naming certain countries, Nawaz Sharif said he had not agreed with Beg when he suggested strategic alliance with them. “It was because we were a part of the allied forces that were deployed in Saudi Arabia. The rulers in Saudi Arabia had pointed out this situation, saying such statements were emanating from Pakistan when Pakistani troops were with them.” Nawaz recalled that the question was also raised with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and exchange of views was held with Gen Aslam Beg. At times, he was associated in policymaking. “I never had differences with anyone because I believed in moving ahead in accordance with the Constitution, get them implemented and take note if anyone crossed the limits.” With regard to dismissal of his government in 1993, the former prime minister was of the view that the action was taken on flimsy grounds. “My government was restored by the Supreme Court that was unprecedented in the country’s history. Things became very complicated and I decided to seek a fresh mandate. In this connection, I set aside the perception that Gen Kakar mounted pressure. My father was also irked over my stance but I was sure of sweeping the elections. On the contrary, Benazir Bhutto won the elections because we never knew that secret agencies also had a role.” When asked about the reaction from the Army to the Kerry Lugar law, the PML-N chief said there might have been reservations but they were not supposed to issue a handout on the subject. The Army was supposed to talk to the government and express its point of view and the government was supposed to carry forward their stance. He admitted as a mistake the appointment of Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of the Army Staff. He avoided a question with regard to the extension of the tenure of the Army chief and said repeating the question was not advisable as our troops are in the state of war. When asked about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he said he could not forget the moment. “A meeting was scheduled between me and her, but it could not take place because of her death.” When I rushed to the hospital after her death, the PPP workers had gathered around me and said Nawaz would ensure revenge for Benazir. I had promised to do it at the first available opportunity. Comparing his relations with Benazir and Zardari, he said she was very straightforward with him. Had she been alive, things would have been better. We were political adversaries but theenmity was over, Nawaz said. About Zardari, he said initially he was sincere. Although, he had signed the document to restore the chief justice but he did not mean it. That was the beginning of worsening of our relations. It ended up with my disqualification and dissolution of the Shahbaz Sharif government in the Punjab. He asked how Musharraf had accumulated Rs 580 million. Accountability has to be across the board. Corruption is never restricted to politicians. Generals, journalists, judges and civil servants had also plundered this country alongside politicians, Nawaz insisted. There has to be homework about the future of the country, Nawaz said. All the stakeholders and institutions have to sit down and evolve a methodology to run the country in accordance with the Constitution if a deadly revolution has to be avoided in the country. None should cross the limits of the Constitution and an economic and foreign policy has to be framed for the next two decades. Policies are not to be altered with the change of governments, he asserted. The former prime minister said the defence budget should also be discussed in parliament. With regard to normalisation of relations with India, he said the Kashmir issue by now would have been resolved, had there been no interruption in the peace process that was launched with the arrival of Vajpaee in Lahore in 1999. He said Pakistan was not the only party to the Kashmir problem, the people of Kashmir and India are also to be taken on board. With regard to relations with the US, he said there had been ups and downs in the last 60 years. The policy adopted by Clinton was positive and same is the case with Obama. Bush had ties with Musharraf only; he had no relations with the people and political parties of Pakistan. Nawaz said it was a mistake not to establish relations with Russia. The policy to dominate Afghanistan by Pakistan had failed in the past and we have to leave it now. Nawaz said as compared to the past, he had become more vocal and straightforward. “I spend two hours with my mother when I am in Lahore. She loves me and prays for me a lot whenever I meet her,” Nawaz said. Recalling his early childhood, he said his mother used to give him four Annas. He used to spend two Annas to purchase sandwiches and the rest for cold drinks. Recalling the best childhood friend, Nawaz said Shabbir Sharif Shaheed was his school days friend, who was martyred in the 1965 War. Khwaja Asif is his friend since they were in the Government College, Lahore. “My father also loved me a lot. He used to speak with me in Urdu while my mother talks in Punjabi. I used to draw inspiration from my father who taught me to serve the country and the poor.”

Sharif:Nation United Against Terror

LAHORE: The chief of Pakistan Muslim League-N and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday visited the Darbar data and has condemned the suicide attack on the Shrine of Ali Hazart Hajvery (RA) in the strongest terms.

Talking to media after his visit to the shrine, he expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief for the loss of precious lives and injuries to hundreds of people during the terrorist attack.

Terming the attack as an act of cowardice against innocent people, Nawaz Sharif said that the nation is united to foil the evil designs of terrorists.

He said it was the worst incident in which dozens of people were martyred add not only the people of Pakistan complaint about this act of terrorism, but also people from other countries.

He said that the country’s political leadership must move forward by putting aside differences to evolve a common strategy to solve the problems facing the country.

He urged the nation and political parties to forge unity in their ranks to fight terrorism.

Nawaz blames Zardari for his disqualification

LAHORE: Chief of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has blamed that the President Zardari was involved in his disqualification and in the suspension of Shahbaz Sharif government, said sources Tuesday.

While talking in a TV interview, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif said that President’s Zardari’s intention was good in the beginning but later on he changed his mind since he did not want the judiciary to be restored.

Nawaz Sharif cleared the fact that he just had a political conflict with Benazir Bhutto but no personal enmity.

He further said that his biggest mistake was to appoint General Pervez Musharraf (R) as the Chief of Army Staff.

“The army is in a state of war. If it has any objection with the Kerry-Lugar Bill, it should discuss it with the government,” said Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz to devise new strategy against govt.

LAHORE: Quaid Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif has sought news proposals from senior party members in order to evolve new strategies against government, Geo news reported.

Nawaz Sharif seeks full stop against corruption of leaders of ruling party.

According to PML-N’s sources, the new face of Nawaz’s rigid and rude tone is a part of new strategy adopted against corruption of government leaders.

Instead of favouring or opposing mid-term elections, Nawaz Sharif will now unveil corruption of ruling leaders to award those involved the due punishment, sources told Geo news.

Also, Nawaz Sharif has directed senior party leaders of submitting requisitions to convene session of National Assembly soon.

The next NA session will witness debate on corruption cases of leaders and their associates.

Nawaz Sharif blames government for mismanagement in scathing attack

Islamabad: Former premier Nawaz Sharif launched a bitter attack on the government Tuesday, blaming it for economic mismanagement, rampant corrupt ion and confrontation with the judiciary.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore after a high-level meeting of his main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), he said his party would not remain a “silent spectator” and would play its role for containing the overall deterioration without upsetting the democratic system.

He demanded a thorough debate in the parliament on the conditions prevailing in the country in order to evolve a national strategy to reverse the drift into chaos.

Sharif once again denounced what he called attempts by the government to “buy loyalties of lawyers” and turn them against the judiciary by doling out financial grants to bars in Punjab province and other areas through its law minister. A number of bar associations had refused such handouts, he said and praised their stand recalling the struggle waged by the lawyer community and the PML-N that led to the restoration of the independent judiciary in March last year.

He said since the transition from dictatorship to democratic rule after the February 2008 general election, his party had taken care that the system was not destabilized, though it had to face criticism that it was acting as a friendly opposition to the Pakistan People's Party government.

“The economy is going down the drain and the situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating because of misrule and corruption. We cannot watch this deterioration silently; the direction has to be changed,” he said.

Sharif said courts in France have concluded that the Agosta submarine deal with Pakistan during the PPP government had involvement kickbacks. He said it was not difficult to pinpoint culprits and demanded that necessary action be taken.

He said when his party was in power the country's economy was flourishing, the value of Pakistani rupee was more than the Indian currency and the country did not have to beg loans from others.

The opposition leader's onslaught came amid ongoing tussle between the executive and the judiciary and emerging prospect of many federal and provincial lawmakers losing their seats as a result of a scandal over alleged fake educational degrees of parliamentarians.

Around 10 legislators belonging to PML-N, PPP and PML-Q have already quit in the wake of proceedings in courts on challenges to authenticity of their degrees they had furnished to contest the 2008 elections when graduation was a pre-requisite for participation in parliamentary polls.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is currently engaged in a process to verify degrees of hundreds of legislators, following a Supreme Court order to the Election Commission to initiate action against lawmakers whose degrees were found to be spurious.

Political analysts say if a large number of lawmakers stood disqualified such a situation could warrant holding of fresh elections instead of filling vacant seats through by-polls. The two-year old government has dismissed suggestions of mid-term elections.

Asked at his news conference about PML-N stance over the issue, Sharif said his party was watching the developing situation and would take a decision at the appropriate time.

National reconstruction need of hour: Nawaz

Lahore—Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern over indifferent attitude of the PPP led government and said formulation of national reconstruction is need of the hour.

He said this while addressing a consultative meeting of the PML-N held at his Raiwind residence on Monday. Among others the meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Pervaiz Rashid and Sartaj Aziz.

The meeting discussed country’s political and economic situation and took some important decisions, sources said.

Addressing the meeting, Nawaz Sharif said that those who are criticising them should see their own misdeeds and apprise the nation about their programme and agenda.

He said that irresponsible speeches were delivered at the time of distribution of cheques of grants to the bar associations that made the whole process controversial. “Where were these grants when bar associations all over the country were struggling for independence of judiciary,” he questioned?

Nawaz said that no steps are being taken to correct wrongs committed during the last 10 years. He said that PML-N is duty bound to keep close eye on government affairs and also play its due role as opposition. He also called for adopting the policy of self accountability. “Failure could be converted into success through self accountability while nations that follow self accountability never fail,” he said. Nawaz further said that the PML-N had played heroic role for putting an end to dictatorship and we would lead the country to road to progress and prosperity with public support.