Musharraf, Zardari were scared to fight terrorism: Nawaz

Says every province was facing menace of terrorism when he took over in 2013

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Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif criticised former presidents General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari for failing to stand against terrorism.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders including daughter Maryam Nawaz, Federal Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and others in Islamabad, Nawaz claimed Musharraf and Zardari were scared to fight terrorism.

The PML-N Quaid recalled that at the beginning of his tenure in 2013, the country was facing an upsurge in terrorism. “People were scared; children were out of schools… every province was facing terrorism,” he said. “Three months into power, we had made the decision to address growing terrorism, crime, extortion and other issues plaguing the country.”

Recalling his 1997-99 stint, Nawaz asked whether he was punished for conducting nuclear tests. He claimed that documents stored on the Constitution Avenue would reveal that former United States President Bill Clinton had offered US$5 billion in 1998 to halt the atomic tests. “I would have accepted that money if I was greedy,” he said as he reiterated his stance on the top court’s disqualification verdict.

Nawaz came down hard on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for failing to control the security situation in Karachi despite ten years in power. Crediting his government for bringing peace to the port city by launching an operation in 2013, he said: "I went to Karachi right after winning the general elections. Held meetings with then Army Chief General (retd) Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, political parties, provincial heads of security, civil society and media before reaching a conclusion that an operation was needed."

Highlighting that it was the PPP’s responsibility as they had the mandate, Nawaz said the party had failed Sindh. “Karachi has become a heap of garbage, children are dying in interior Sindh.”

PTI rally in Lahore

Speaking on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Sunday rally in Lahore, Nawaz claimed the rally was staged in the Punjab’s capital but the people was brought from Peshawar.

Dwelling further, he said PTI took orders from ‘hidden forces’. “Even Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak had said he took orders from authorities above him – perhaps he was pointing towards Bani Gali. They [PTI] are fooling the nation.”

“Imran should stop politics of lies. He is deceiving public through hypocrisy and lies,” said the former premier. “You cannot create a Naya Pakistan by abusing others as only truth and public service can bring about change.”,