Pakistan

Salmaan Taseer murder: Some PPP leaders tried to pin blame on PML-N, says Sharif

PML-N chief says it was Prime Minister Gilani who thwarted the ‘conspiracy’.

Abdul Manan January 29, 2011

LAHORE: Chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif has alleged that some federal ministers from the rival Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had tried to implicate him and his brother in the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer.

Taseer was gunned down on January 4 by one of his own security guards incensed by his remarks against the controversial blasphemy law.

Sharif, however, told a gathering at a local hotel on Friday that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had not supported the ‘conspiracy’ hatched by the PPP ministers who are close to the presidential camp. “I thank the premier for discouraging such elements who do not want stability in Pakistan,” he added.

Sharif claimed the PPP ministers had a two-pronged plan: First they tried to establish it as a ‘politically-motivated’ murder, then they motivated supporters in different cities to stage rallies against Taseer’s murder. But Gilani thwarted the ‘plan’ saying that it was not a ‘political assassination’, Sharif added. Turning to the ambitious 10-point agenda that he had rolled out at a news conference earlier this month, the PML-N supremo said that the PPP was dilly-dallying on its implementation. The PPP is demanding more time for implementing the agenda, he said but added that he has asked his party’s negotiators to tell the government that it must be implemented within 45 days as was initially said.

Sharif reiterated his 10 points, saying that if implemented, it would bring about a new era of economic prosperity in the country. However, if the PPP failed to do so within 45 days, then the PML-N would invite other political parties to come forward for the implementation of the agenda, he warned.

Sharif also took swipe at his arch-rival Pervez Musharraf, blaming him for undoing all the ‘good work’ of the previous PML-N government. He said that Musharraf gave nothing to the country except terrorism and extremism.

Sharif also blamed Musharraf for the Kargil fiasco. He claimed that the former army chief had triggered the conflict without taking political and military leadership into confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (9)

Yasser Khan | 13 years ago | Reply //PML-N chief says it was Prime Minister Gilani who thwarted the ‘conspiracy’// Mind you Mr. Sharif, Keeping in mind your Law Minister i.e Mr. Ranasanaull and Pakistan politics where you daily blame every evil to Mr. Musharraf, it could be Mr. Gilani in future who would also point gun at you, Delhi is not far enough i.e Next Elections

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply As long as they have "Protectors" in the Judiciary and by rightists no one can touch them apart from whether they are involved in any murder, fraud, money laundering or what ever the case maybe. God forbids, if any harm comes to the country it will only be due to the "Stiff Necks" in the Province Of Punjab.

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Another Sharif | 13 years ago | Reply ‎19 private jets carrying families of wealthy Egyptian businessmen,Gamal's close aide and confidant, steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz, with ties to the Mubarak family left Cairo late Saturday, most of them bound for Dubai, an airport official.

Hashmat Ali | 13 years ago | Reply But my question to sharifs is that why haven't they yet visited the taseers to condole death of salaman taseer? Is it closet taliban in them who is not letting them to condole death of a person who raised voice against misuse of blasphemy laws or they aren't burying hatchet even after the death of their political victim

M Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply Fouzia Wahab, Babar Aiwan infact Mr. Zardari also pronounced the act as political in nature. Were they trying to point the fingers at MQM, Fazl ur Rehman or may be Imran Khan by such statements? No, actually this was the only murder in PPP history of which they couldnot take political advantage, though they were hell bent upon bringing political shades in that episode.

Sharjeel Jawaid | 13 years ago | Reply For the politicians this is a hobby; with not being able to take up anything seriously save their own estate and foreign bank deposits.

Arshad | 13 years ago | Reply Masses still think that there is some political motivation behind this murder. Whatever Mr. Shariff says. He and his party workers should than thankful to the other guards who did not gunned down Mr. Qadri otherwise FIR will then be reported against them.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply This self-declared leader - irrespective of his questionable leadership qualities, should realize that accusations will lead to nothing but further confusion and hostility, and an attempt to distract people from the deteriorating law and order situation coupled with dire economic affairs.

Ehsan Haq | 13 years ago | Reply Leader of this caliber - as is claimed to be - should behave above these standards, and refrain from labelling such shallow accusations. Why not to name the ministers involved? In fact his clear intention seems to point finger towards Zardari. What doe'st he talk about the "secret report on Juistice (R) Shareef assassination plan" , which has been proved fake in the highest court. And it clearly implicates Col Ehsan as conspirator. This guy is so close to his brother and could have not done so without his consent. Everyone blamed in the report submitted to SC is a close aide of Shehbaz.

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