Credit for Karachi operation goes to Nawaz: Zubair

Sindh governor says Gen Raheel 'just another general and no one should make him larger than life'.

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair has said former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif was “just another general and no one should make him larger than life”.

“[Gen] Raheel Sharif was made larger than life and that’s the reason when he is allotted a piece of land -- which he deserves -- it raises eyebrows,” the governor said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 'Leaders in Islamabad' summit in the federal capital.

"He is a normal general like any other generals and it’s his right to acquire the piece of land he was given ... Let’s be fair with him -- let’s not make him larger than life. This will only create more problems for him.".



Lashing out at the critics of the appointment of the former army general as head of the Saudi-led 41-nation Islamic military alliance, Zubair defended the move, terming it Sharif's 'prerogative' as a 'normal person'.

Islamabad’s decision to send the former army chief to lead the alliance has raised concerns among political circles because of its likely repercussion in the region and fears that it may complicate our already fraught relations with Iran.

"His [Sharif's] job as chief of the Saudi-led alliance is also being seen as something extraordinary –- when it should be his prerogative as a normal person.

Zubair said the law and order situation had improved in Karachi after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assumed the office as the country’s chief executive.



“The credit for Karachi’s operation goes 100 percent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif," he said and added, “Although Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif also contributed a lot towards that end.”

The governor noted that a large number of people was surprised over Raheel Sharif’s appointment as the Islamic Military alliance commander and inquired whether he was accepting it for the sake of money.

The governor said the deployment of Rangers in Karachi was essential for the economic development and the paramilitary troops would remain in the metropolis till the economic stability is achieved.

"In the past, Karachi would be shut down in only 10 minutes. Now, all political parties can not close the city even if they join forces," Zubair maintained.

Responding to a question regarding the Panama case, he said he himself was anxiously waiting for the apex court’s decision and added that the unnecessary delay had been affecting stock exchange negatively.

Zubair claimed that Nine Zero (90) had been sealed and added that no one was demanding to reopen the former headquarters of the Muttahia Qaumi Movement. “Altaf Hussian is history now, and there is nobody left who can mention the name of the MQM-London.”

The governor also slammed Hussain and said his speech that he delivered in New Delhi way back in 2004 in which he termed partition of the Subcontinent a ‘mistake’ was more dangerous.

Separately, Khuwaja Saad Rafique later said that the statement of the Sindh governor was his [Muhammad Zubair’s] own statement and not the government’s stance.