LAHORE: A day after the spokespersons of every major political party called for a judicial investigation into the explosive allegations leveled by former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also chimed in, saying that they think it would be a good idea too.
Both gentlemen belong to the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), whose spokesperson Senator Mushahidullah Khan had already endorsed the idea of an investigation into the damning allegations levelled by Mirza against Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
“If these accusations are true then the criminals should be punished,” said Shahbaz Sharif while speaking during the balloting ceremony of his signature Yellow Cab employment scheme in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Sharif called for the Supreme Court to investigate the allegations.
Chaudhry Nisar seconded Sharif’s call but then went one step further and called for a session of parliament immediately after Eid to discuss the situation in Karachi and solicit testimony on the matter from the nation’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“The most unfortunate thing is that the people of Karachi must bear the brunt of the political infighting,” said Nisar in a statement released to the press on Monday.
The PML-N, the largest opposition party in parliament and the ruling PPP’s biggest rival, has chosen to focus on the allegations levelled by Mirza against the interior minister, since those most closely align with the party’s current stance that the PPP-led coalition is inept and corrupt.
Even as Mirza and Malik appeared to have a very public falling out, the PML-N continued to refer to both as loyalists of President Asif Ali Zardari and placed the blame for much of the political discord at the feet of the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
“Since both Mirza and Malik are cronies of President Asif Zardari, the real fault line is in the presidency,” Senator Mushahidullah told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
The PPP is expecting the PML-N to begin an earnest campaign soon after Eid to try to unseat the Gilani administration. Sources close to the PPP leadership say that the ruling party expects the PML-N to resign from the National Assembly in either September or October.
Rhetoric between the two political parties has grown more heated in recent months as the PPP has openly pandered to the PML-N’s stronghold in Punjab, seeking to undermine their base. For its part, the PML-N has begun activities that suggest that it does not plan on letting the government finish its term without a fight.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (18)
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yes i agree, Mr. Shareef is right in punjab no one has said UK to break ISI or Pakistan.
All the parties should be investigated. We may find that they are all the same. . . .even the Drama Queens!!
PML N is copying whatever imran khan says, this is exactly what IK said.
@Maria, there is no harm in investigating. However if the Sharif's are so concerned about the overall situation, why don't they resign from the seats and launch a protest. Just issuing statements won't do any good. Actions speaks louder than words! Sitting in the comforts of Raiwand Palace will not change things around. Also the security situation in Punjab is worse as well!
yes you are right....but what to to do of your political opposition....they will continue accusing you..but don,t loose courage most of public is with u
the husband of the speaker of pk. national assembly is always aggressive and hostile towards his political rivals, mostly mqm, and his latest, unthinkable allegations/outpourings against karachi-hyderabad ruling power -mqm-is actually a part of the game of those who want the present system of exploitations by the british created jagirdaramna nizam, which is the root cause of of all our social, political, economical, moral religious ills in our country with its 96 percent muslim papulation. all types of mafias are also playing their nefarious 'loot-ghasoot' game with their guns. mqm wants to change this un-holy system with their papular voting power. all those who feel threatened are doing things through war mongerings people like quran-bearing dr. sahib.and it seems to be his final act to rescue and safegaurd the vested interests and mafias. the people of pakistan now know the real causes of their shameful plight in the 21st century in which the poor are made to lead a shameful life of poverty and below the level of human dignity in the whole world with 15 to 18 hours load-sheddig, under whicn no man can live even one day of normal life.it is the considered opinion of the poor man in the street that mqm is the last hope of change for the better in their heavily burdened miserable, unbearable life. all this is a story of war between 'haves' and 'haves not' in our society full of internal as well as external enemies, with no love or respect for anyone, neither in the name of humanity nor in the name of islam.
@Syed younus Shah: At least Shahbaz Sharif is working and improving things in Lahore and Punjab. Can you say the same for other groups? What is wrong with investigating the claims and if they are true then charges are in order. The UK should not harbour people who have been charged in Pakistan.
Is it Supreme Court or Supreme Investigation Agency? Champion of independent judiciary asking SC to what they should do! I wonder what Sharifs mean by independence when they attack Zardari. I am sick of self-righteousness of Sharifs.
chief justice playing the role of some super extra constitutional government, it is a shame that he has politicised himself so much that he has now no credibility
What about Khosa's allegations? SHO of Gawal Mandi?
Well, here we go again. First Shahbaz Sharif was accused of being in cahoots with Americans, then Nawaz Sharif was taken to task for being soft on Indians and now apparently accordingly to Shahbaz Sharif, MQM should be investigated for being in league with the Americans to break up the country. The other day Sharjeel Memon made a similar statement saying that they were in cahoots with Indians. As for the Baluchis they have been accused of treason since 1947. It seems treason is the easiest political charge to make in Pakistan. The politicians of Pakistan cannot deliver peace and prosperity to the people. All they can do is cause mayhem and chaos. Disgusting.
@Tribune:- "will rake notice of Mirza’s accusations" rectify the spellings.
Investigation is not the job of the Supreme Court, even through Pakistan is a strange country where the Supreme Court has tangled itself into: * Investigations * Postings/Transfers * Price Fixing * Legitimizing Dictators * Bringing down elected governments
And this is what Shahbaz Sharif is playing into.
For what you are sitting Mr Chief Minister
Mr. Sharif, put your house in order first! Do'nt fool the public. We know who is a coward and who is not!
Copy-pasting Imran Khan's statement YET AGAIN!