Political bickering: Memon asks Nawaz to apologise to the nation

Minister incensed by PML-N chief’s criticism of forces.

KARACHI:

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has asked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to tender an apology to the nation for his remarks against the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

Memon, who was accompanied by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA from Punjab Assembly Shaukat Basra, was addressing a press conference in response to Nawaz’s statement.

Nawaz made the remarks following his meeting with the American ambassador in Lahore. Criticising the armed forces and intelligence agencies, Nawaz said that the country’s foreign policy should be decided by the elected government and not the armed forces. He also said that the army should avoid hatching conspiracies against political parties.

Articulating his party’s support of the armed forces and intelligence agencies, he said the PPP takes pride in them.

He added that at a time when the country is facing grave challenges and there is a need to strengthen institutions, Nawaz’s statement was unacceptable. He lashed out at the PML-N chief, saying he was ‘not a politician but a businessman’, who got a hefty amount to form the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad.  “It is very unfortunate that a man who grew up in the lap of the establishment is now talking against it.”

Citing the ‘Mehran Bank’ and ‘Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwaro’ scandals as well as the opulence of their Raiwind residence, Memon said they were proof that PML-N leaders are corrupt, and that they have looted and plundered the nation’s wealth.

“The Punjab government has exceeded all limits of corruption and it is being run on a stay order. While a stay order is issued for six months only, a whole year has passed in their case and they are still running the government on it.”

He also accused the PML-N of violating the ‘Charter of Democracy’ by launching the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), and added that they are now engaged in horse-trading. “This is nothing but a conspiracy against democracy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2011.

Correction: May 15, 2011

Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this article had incorrectly stated APDM as the All Pakistan Democratic Alliance. The APDM is the All Parties Democratic Movement.